“The moon will come out again presently,” he said, when George had followed his example. “She has got behind that thunder-cloud. Ah!” as a bright flash of lightning passed from heaven to earth, “I thought that we should get a storm; it will be here in half an hour.”
All this Philip said to gain time; he had not quite made up his mind what price to offer.
“Never mind the lightning. What do you offer for the property, inclusive of timber, and with all improvements—just as it stands, in short.”
“One hundred thousand pounds cash,” said Philip, deliberately.
George sprang from his seat, and sat down again before he answered.
“Do you think that I am drunk, or a fool, that you come to me with such a ridiculous offer? Why, the probate valuation was two hundred thousand, and that was very low.”
“I offer one hundred thousand, and am willing to settle thirty thousand absolutely on the girl should she marry you, and twenty thousand more on my death. That is my offer—take it, or leave it.”
“Talk sense, man; your terms are preposterous.”
“I tell you that, preposterous or not, I will not go beyond them. If you don’t like them, well and good, leave them alone, and I’ll put myself in communication with young Heigham to-morrow, and tell him that he can come and marry the girl as soon as he likes. For my part, I am very glad to have the business settled.”
“You ask me to sacrifice half my property,” groaned George.