The words, _love, generosity, generous_, sounded upon the lady's ear,
and she was unwilling to lose that high opinion which she imagined
Alfred entertained of her sentiments and character. Besides, she was
conscious that he was in fact nearer the truth than all the world would
have believed. Avaricious in trifles, and parsimonious in those every-day
habits which brand the reputation immediately with the fault of avarice,
this woman was one of those misers who can be generous by fits and starts,
and who have been known to _give_ hundreds of pounds, but never without
reluctance would part with a shilling.

She presented the dean, her husband, with an order on her banker for the
money he wanted, and Alfred had the pleasure of leaving his unhappy friend
better, at least, than he found him. He rejoiced in having compromised this
business so successfully, and in thus having prevented the litigation,
ill-will, and disgraceful circumstances, which, without his interference,
must have ensued.

The gratitude of Mrs. Leicester and her niece was delightful. The aunt
urged him to accept what he had been the means of saving, as part of
her niece's fortune; but this he absolutely refused, and satisfied Mrs.
Leicester's delicacy, by explaining, that he could not, if he would, now
yield to her entreaties, as he had actually obtained the money from poor
Buckhurst's generous repentance, upon the express faith that he had no
private interest in the accommodation.

"You would not," said Alfred, "bring me under the act against raising money
upon false pretences?"

What Alfred lost in money he gained in love. His Sophia's eyes beamed upon