Gilbert was taken into counsel, and showed so much right spirit and
good sense, that the discussion was friendly and unreserved. It
ended in the father and son resorting to Pettilove's office to
ascertain the amount of ready money in his hands, and what income
Gilbert would receive on coming of age. The investigation somewhat
disappointed the youth, who had never thoroughly credited what his
father told him of the necessity of his exerting himself for his own
maintenance, nor understood how heavy a drain on his property were
the life-interests of his father and grandmother, and the settlement
on his aunt. By-and-by, he might be comparatively a rich man, but at
first his present allowance would be little more than doubled, and
the receipts would be considerably diminished by an alteration of
existing system of rents, such as had so long been planned. It was
plain that the almshouses were the unsubstantial fabric of a dream,
but no one now dared to refer to them, and Mr. Kendal desired Albinia
to write to consult her cousin.
Captain Ferrars was so much flattered at her asking his protection
for anything, that he would have promised to patronize Cousin Slender
himself for her sake. He praised the Colonel and lauded the mess to
the skies, and economy being his present hobby, he represented
himself as living upon nothing, and saving his pay. He further gave
notice of impending retirements, and advised that the application
should be made without loss of time, lamenting grievously himself
that there was no chance for the 25th, of a touch at the Russians.
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