"Is it absolutely necessary to speak of my marriage engagement?"
she asked in low tones.
"It is necessary to refer to it," I answered, "but not to dwell on
it. Let us merely say that you may marry, or that you may not
marry. In the first case, I must be prepared, beforehand, to draw
your settlement, and I ought not to do that without, as a matter
of politeness, first consulting you. This may be my only chance
of hearing what your wishes are. Let us, therefore, suppose the
case of your marrying, and let me inform you, in as few words as
possible, what your position is now, and what you may make it, if
you please, in the future."
I explained to her the object of a marriage-settlement, and then
told her exactly what her prospects were--in the first place, on
her coming of age, and in the second place, on the decease of her
uncle--marking the distinction between the property in which she
had a life-interest only, and the property which was left at her
own control. She listened attentively, with the constrained
expression still on her face, and her hands still nervously
clasped together in her lap.
"And now," I said in conclusion, "tell me if you can think of any
condition which, in the case we have supposed, you would wish me
to make for you--subject, of course, to your guardian's approval,
as you are not yet of age.
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