How eager Lady Carbury was that her son should at once go in form to Marie's father and make his proposition may be easily understood. "My dear Felix," she said, standing over his bedside a little before noon, "pray don't put it off; you don't know how many slips there may be between the cup and the lip."
"It's everything to get him in a good humour," pleaded Sir Felix.
"But the young lady will feel that she is ill-used."
"There's no fear of that; she's all right. What am I to say to him about money? That's the question."
"I shouldn't think of dictating anything, Felix."
"Nidderdale, when he was on before, stipulated for a certain sum down; or his father did for him. So much cash was to be paid over before the ceremony, and it only went off because Nidderdale wanted the money to do what he liked with."

Lady Carbury was eager that her son should go at once to Marie's father. "My dear Felix," she said, standing over his bedside just before noon, "pray don't put it off."
"I need to get him in a good humour," pleaded Sir Felix.
"But the young lady will feel that she is ill-used."
"There's no fear of that; she's all right. What am I to say to him about money? That's the question. Nidderdale asked for a certain sum down, to be paid before the ceremony, and it only went off because Nidderdale wanted the money to do what he liked with."
