"Mr. Clavering would, no doubt, have made the offer to you himself, had it not been that I can, perhaps, speak to you about dear Fanny better than he could do. Though our prudence has not been quite to your mind, you can at any rate understand that we might very much object to her marrying you when there was nothing for you to live on, even though we had no objection to yourself personally."
"But Mr. Clavering did object on both grounds."
"I was not aware that he had done so; but, if so, no such objection is now made by him,—or by me. My idea is that a child should be allowed to consult her own heart, and to indulge her own choice,—provided that in doing so she does not prepare for herself a life of indigence, which must be a life of misery; and of course providing also that there be no strong personal objection."
"A life of indigence need not be a life of misery," said Mr. Saul, with that obstinacy which formed so great a part of his character.
"Well, well."
"I am very indigent, but I am not at all miserable. If we are to be made miserable by that, what is the use of all our teaching?"
"But, at any rate, a competence is comfortable."
"Too comfortable!" As Mr. Saul made this exclamation, Mrs. Clavering could not but wonder at her daughter's taste. But the matter had gone too far now for any possibility of receding.
"You will not refuse it, I hope, as it will be accompanied by what you say you still desire."
"No; I will not refuse it. And may God give her and me grace so to use the riches of this world that they become not a stumbling-block to us, and a rock of offence. It is possible that the camel should be made to go through the needle's eye. It is possible."