Mr. Falconer. But I cannot consent to her marrying without a fortune of her own.
Harry Hedgerow. Why then, I'll give her one beforehand. Father has saved some money, and she shall have that. We'll settle it on her, as the lawyers say.
Mr. Falconer. You are a thoroughly good fellow, Harry, and I really wish Dorothy joy of her choice; but that is not what I meant. She must bring you a fortune, not take one from you; and you must not refuse it.
Harry repeated that he did not want fortune; and Mr. Falconer repeated that, so far as depended on him, he should not have Dorothy without one. It was not an arduous matter to bring to an amicable settlement.
The affair of Harry and Dorothy being thus satisfactorily arranged, the other six were adjusted with little difficulty; and Mr. Falconer returned with a light heart to the Grange, where he presented himself at dinner on the twenty-seventh day of his probation.
He found much the same party as before; for though some of them absented themselves for a while, they could not resist Mr. Gryll's earnest entreaties to return. He was cordially welcomed by all, and with a gracious smile from Morgana.
CHAPTER XXXIV
CHRISTMAS TALES—CLASSICAL TALES OF WONDER—THE HOST'S GHOST—A TALE OF A SHADOW—A TALE OF A BOGLE—THE LEGEND OF ST. LAURA
Jane... We'll draw round
The fire, and grandmamma perhaps will tell us
One of her stories.
Harry... Ay, dear grand maamma!
A pretty story! something dismal now!
A bloody murder.
Jane... Or about a ghost.
—Southey: The Grandmother's Fate.