My knowledge of Mr. Ascomy, and his amazement at the readiness of my acquiescence, convinced me that I had disappointed him of making a fine speech prepared for the occasion. I had some suspicion it would have that effect, and, perhaps, there was a little prankfulness mingled with the manner in which I acted; malice it could not be called, but the consequence returned upon my own head, with unforeseen astonishment.

Urseline had in her conversation with him, the better to gain her end, after duly intimating that Mr. Tythe was not of a disposition, nor possessed of influence enough to raise himself higher in the Church, advised him, as if to outstrip me in generosity, to make the deed of settlement, and to have it prepared without speaking to me at all on the subject; insinuating, that to make his own magnanimity the more apparent, he ought not to inquire what I intended to settle. How she accomplished this I never very clearly understood, but the result was as I have described it. In truth, I possessed nothing to settle; I had only a respectable income, part of which was laid aside for a policy on my life, effected in contemplation of the marriage. It was not a heavy sum; but it served to lessen the amount we had to spend, which was also lessened by a reservation set apart for the prospective contingencies always deemed to be in the rear of a wedding. I beg attention to this, because I am reluctant to take up the time of the reader by enlarging upon the causes that, in combination, hastened on a decision which could not be averted.