poured forth such complaints against the extravagance of the dean, with
lists of the debts she had paid, the sums she had given, and the vow she
had made, never to go beyond the weekly allowance she had, at the last
settlement, agreed to give her husband.

Alfred pleaded strongly the expense of law, and the certainty, in his
opinion, of ultimate defeat, with the being obliged to pay all the
costs, which would fall upon the dean. The dean was willing to withdraw
his claim--he had promised to do so, in the most handsome manner; and
therefore, Alfred said, he felt particularly anxious that he should not be
distressed for five hundred pounds, a sum for which he knew Mr. Falconer
was immediately pressed. He appealed to Mrs. Falconer's generosity. He
had been desired by the dean to speak to her on the subject, otherwise he
should not have presumed--and it was as a professional man, and a near
relation, that he now took the liberty: this was the first transaction he
had ever had with her, and he hoped he should leave the vicarage impressed
with a sense of her generosity, and enabled to do her justice in the
opinion of those who did not know her.

That was very little to her, she bluntly said--she acted only up to her own
notions--she lived only for herself.

"And for her husband." Love, Alfred Percy said, he was assured, was
superior to money in her opinion. "And after all, my dear madam, you set me
the example of frankness, and permit me to speak to you without reserve.
What can you, who have no reason, you say, to be pleased with either of
your nephews, do better with your money, than spend it while you live and
for yourself, in securing happiness in the gratitude and affection of a
husband, who, generous himself, will be peculiarly touched and attached by
generosity?"