The Doctor delivered these words in his most impressive manner, uplifting both eyes and hands.
The old man, however, seemed to pay but little attention to it. Turning his head on one side, he said, in a quick, sharp voice: "Time enough for that when we come to it How's the girl inclined? Is the money hers, anyhow, at twenty-five,--how old now? Sure to be a couple, hey?--settle that first!"
Dr. Deane crossed his legs carefully, so as not to crease the cloth too much, laid his cane upon them, and leaned back a little in his chair. "Of course I've not spoken to Martha," he presently said; "I can only say that she hasn't set her mind upon anybody else, and that is the main thing. She has followed my will in all, except as to joining the Friends, and there I felt that I couldn't rightly command, where the Spirit had not spoken. Yes, the money will be hers at twenty-five,--she is twenty-one now,--but I hardly think it necessary to take that into consideration. If thee can answer for Alfred, I think I can answer for her."
"The boy's close about _his_ money," broke in the old man, with a sly, husky chuckle. "What he has, Doctor, you understand, goes toward balancin' what she has, afore you come onto me, at all. Yes, yes, I know what I'm about. A good deal, off and on, has been got out o' this farm, and it hasn't all gone into _my_ pockets. I've a trifle put out, but you can't expect me to strip myself naked, in my old days. But I'll do what's fair--I'll do what's fair!"
"There's only this," the Doctor added, meditatively, "and I want thee to understand, since we've, somehow or other, come to mention the matter, that we'd better have another talk, after we've had more time to think of it. Thee can make up thy mind, and let me know _about_ what thee'll do; and I the same. Thee _has_ a starting-point on my side, knowing the amount of Martha's fortune--_that_, of course, thee must come up to first, and then we'll see about the rest!"
Old-man Barton felt that he was here brought up to the rack. He recognized Dr. Deane's advantage, and could only evade it by accepting his proposition for delay. True, he had already gone over the subject, in his lonely, restless broodings beside the window, but this encounter had freshened and resuscitated many points. He knew that the business would be finally arranged, but nothing would have induced him to hasten it. There was a great luxury in this preliminary skirmishing.