It should be remembered that her jointure, paid out of his father's decayed estate, was a great tax on his small income.

In his efforts to improve his position by selling his landed property, Mrs.Gibbon seems to have been at times somewhat difficult to satisfy as regards the security of her interests.

It was only prudent on her part.

But it is easy to see what a source of alienation and quarrel was here ready prepared, if both parties had not risen superior to sordid motives.

There never seems to have been the smallest cloud between them.