In the case of any other client I should have acted on my instructions, however personally distasteful to me, and have given up the point about the twenty thousand pounds on the spot. But I could not act with this businesslike indifference towards Miss Fairlie. I had an honest feeling of affection and admiration for her⁠—I remembered gratefully that her father had been the kindest patron and friend to me that ever man had⁠—I had felt towards her while I was drawing the settlement as I might have felt, if I had not been an old bachelor, towards a daughter of my own, and I was determined to spare no personal sacrifice in her service and where her interests were concerned. Writing a second time to Mr.