disgrace yourself and me, I shall consider myself bound to withdraw from
you all the sanction which would be conveyed by my--my--continued
assistance.'

'Do you intend me to understand that you will stop my income?'

'Certainly I should.'

'Then, sir, I think you would behave to me most cruelly. You advised me
to give up my profession.'

'Not in order that you might marry Grace Crawley.'

'I claim the privilege of a man of my age to do as I please in such a
matter as marriage. Miss Crawley is a lady. Her father is a clergyman,
as is mine. Her father's oldest friend is my uncle. There is nothing on
earth against her except her poverty. I do not think I ever heard of
such cruelty on a father's part.'

'Very well, Henry.'

'I have endeavoured to do my duty by you, sir, always; and by my mother.
You can treat me in this way, if you please, but it will not have any
effect on my conduct. You can stop my allowance tomorrow, if you like
it. I had not yet made up my mind to make an offer to Miss Crawley, but
I shall do so tomorrow morning.'

This was very bad indeed, and the archdeacon was extremely unhappy. He
was by no means at heart a cruel man. He loved his children dearly. If
this disagreeable marriage were to take place, he would doubtless do