your glass, Mr. Newton.
She will;--and there's no mistake about it. There'll be more money
too, when I'm dead,--and the old woman."

It might be owned that such a speech from the father of a
marriageable daughter to a young man who had hardly as yet shown
himself to be enamoured, was not delicate. But it may be a question
whether it was not sensible. He had made up his mind, and therefore
went at once at his object. And unless he did the business in this
way, what chance was there that it would be done at all? Mr. Newton
could not come down to Alexandrina Cottage every other day, or meet
the girl elsewhere, as he might do young ladies of fashion. And,
moreover, the father knew well enough that were his girl once to tell
him that she had set her heart upon the gasfitter, or upon Ontario
Moggs, he would not have the power to contradict her. He desired that
she should become a gentleman's wife; and thinking that this was the
readiest way to accomplish his wish, he saw no reason why he should
not follow it. When he had spoken, he chucked off his glass of wine,
and looked into his young friend's face for an answer.

"He'll be a lucky fellow that gets her," said Ralph, beginning
unconsciously to feel that it might perhaps have been as well for him
had he remained in his lodgings on this Sunday.

"He will be a lucky fellow, Mr. Newton. She's as good as gold. And a
well bred 'un too, though I say it as shouldn't. There's not a dirty
drop in her. And she's that clever, she can do a'most anything. As
for her looks, I'll say nothing about them. You've got eyes in your
head. There ain't no mistake there, Mr. Newton; no paint; no Madame
Rachel; no made beautiful for ever! It's human nature what you see
there, Mr. Newton."

"I'm quite sure of that."

"And she has the heart of an angel." By this time Mr. Neefit
was alternately wiping the tears from his eyes, and taking half
glasses of port wine. "I know all about you, Mr. Newton. You are a
gentleman;--that's what you are."

"I hope so."

"And if you don't get the wrong side of the post, you'll come out
right at last. You'll have a nice property some of these days, but
you're just a little short of cash at present."

"That's about true, Mr. Neefit."

"I want nobody to tell me;--I know," continued Neefit. "Now if you
make up to her, there she is,--with twenty thousand pounds down. You
are a gentleman, and I want that girl to be a lady. You can make her
a lady. You can't ma