Sayfa 320 / 817

"Pray, my dear aunt, what is the difference in matrimonial

affairs, between the mercenary and the prudent motive? Where does

discretion end, and avarice begin? Last Christmas you were afraid

of his marrying me, because it would be imprudent; and now,

because he is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand pounds,

you want to find out that he is mercenary."

"If you will only tell me what sort of girl Miss King is, I shall

know what to think."

"She is a very good kind of girl, I believe. I know no harm of

her."

"But he paid her not the smallest attention till her

grandfather's death made her mistress of this fortune?"

"No--why should he? If it were not allowable for him to gain my

affections, because I had no money, what occasion could there be

for making love to a girl whom he did not care about, and who was

equally poor?"

"But there seems indelicacy in directing his attentions towards

her so soon after this event."