Oh! dear; it's very
wrong of me to say so, after all that I have said before; but I
almost wish you were not going. Uncle Christopher seems to be less
hard than he used to be; and as I was the sinner, and as I am
disposed of--"
"It is too late now, my dear."
"And we should neither of us have the courage to mention it to Lily,"
said Bell.
On the following morning the squire sent for his sister-in-law, as it
was his wont to do when necessity came for any discussion on matters
of business. This was perfectly understood between them, and such
sending was not taken as indicating any lack of courtesy on the part
of Mr Dale. "Mary," he said, as soon as Mrs Dale was seated, "I
shall do for Bell exactly what I have proposed to do for Lily. I had
intended more than that once, of course. But then it would all have
gone into Bernard's pocket; as it is, I shall make no difference
between them. They shall each have a hundred a year,--that is, when
they marry. You had better tell Crofts to speak to me."
"Mr Dale, he doesn't expect it. He does not expect a penny.
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