"I suppose with your brother gone, it doesn't much matter that I cut him out of the will," he said with a flat tone. Pearl blinked in surprise. "I don't normally discuss such matters in front of strangers, but I am assuming that you'll be asking to court my daughter as soon as you see that I am not going to bite, and you may as well hear it straight from the horse's mouth." He turned to Pearl, "While I love all of you, my children, it has become clear that most of you have become lazy or greedy... But not you, Pearl. You would stay here if I told you that you must. You've not relied on me to pay your bills with the exception of Matilda and have proven yourself to be a competent young woman. However, I do not like that you went to the man who smudged your name across the gazette, and that has me at a dilemma."

Pearl bit her lip and said, "What is it, papa?"

"You still have much to learn with your reckless ways, make no mistake. I do know about the other lad who you were trying to impress... I wasn't too pleased with that choice in friends... But your ah, friend here... seems a much better candidate. I think if you both prove yourselves to me, I would be most comfortable with this match and with you taking over the estate when I die."