There will be sharp lawyers there, whom we cannot impose upon; and you know, mother, I am without any ostensible property." "Yes, but we can calculate upon the death of cunning Alice, who, by her undue and flagitious influence over your uncle, left you so." "Ay, but such a calculation would never do either with her uncle or the lawyers.

I think we have nothing to fall back upon, mother, but your own property.

If you settle that upon me everything will go right." "And leave myself depending upon Lindsay?
No, no," replied this selfish and penurious woman; "never, Harry--never, never; you must wait until I die for that.

But I can tell you what we can do; let us enter upon the negotiation--let us say for the time being that you have twelve hundred a-year, and, while the business is proceeding, what is there to prevent you from going to recruit your health at Balleyspellan, and kill out Alice Goodwin there, as well as if she remained at home?
By this plan, before the negotiations are closed, you will be able to meet Miss Riddle with twelve hundred a-year at your back.

Alice Goodwin! O, how I hate and detest her--ay, as I do hell!" "The plan," replied her son, "is an excellent one.