opinion in a case
where I well know your sympathies are not in unison with our own; but
your wise judgment and great knowledge of life are advantages I cannot
bring myself to relinquish. I am well aware that whatever your feelings
or your prejudices, they will not interfere with that good judgment."

"Madam, you do me honour; but, I hope, no more than justice."

"You know of Florry's engagement to Mr. Loyd?" she asked, abruptly, as
though eager to begin her recital; and he bowed. "Well, he left this
so hurriedly about his father's affairs, that he had no time to settle
anything, or, indeed, explain anything. We knew nothing of his prospects
or his means, and he just as little about my niece's fortune. He had
written, it is true, to his father, and got a most kind and affectionate
answer, sanctioning the match, and expressing fervent wishes for his
happiness--Why do you smile, Mr. Calvert?"

"I was only thinking of the beauty of that benevolence that costs
nothing; few things are more graceful than a benediction--nothing so
cheap."

"That may be so. I have nothing to say to it," she rejoined, in some
irritation. "But old Mr. Loyd's letter was very beautiful, and very
touching. He reminded Joseph that he himself had married on the very
scantiest of means, and that though his life had never been above the
condition of a very poor vicar, the narrowness of his fortune had not
barred his happiness. I'd like to read you a passage--"

"Pray do not You have given me the key-note, and I feel as if I could
score down the whole symphony."

"You don't believe him, then?"

"Heaven forfend! All I would say is, that between a man of his
temperament and one of mine discussion is impossible; and if this be the
letter on which you want my opinion, I frankly tell you I have none to
give."

"No, no! this is not the letter; here is the letter I wish you to
read. It has only come by this morning's post, and I want to have your
judgment on it before I speak of it to the girls."

Calvert drew the letter slowly from its envelope, and, with a sort of
languid resignation, proceeded to read it As he reached the end of the
first page, he said, "Why, it would need a lawyer of the Ecclesiastical
Court to understand this. What's all this entangled story about
irregular induction, and the last incumbent, and the lay impropriator?"

"Oh, you needn't have read that! It's the poor old gentleman's account
of his calamity; how he has lost his vic