id Mary, "but I
have heard of gentlemen who are never seen again when they lose."
"Mr. Newton is unlike that, I'm sure," said Clary; "but I hope he'll
come again at any rate." Newton promised that he would, and was fully
determined to keep his promise when he made it.

"Wouldn't it be delightful if they were to fall in love with each
other and make a match of it?" said Clary to her sister.

"I don't like to plot and plan such things," said Patience.

"I don't like to scheme, but I don't see any harm in planning. He is
ever so nice,--isn't he?"

"I thought him very pleasant."

"Such an open-spoken, manly, free sort of fellow. And he'll be very
well off, you know."

"I don't know;--but I dare say he will," said Patience.

"Oh yes, you do. Poor Ralph, our Ralph, is a spendthrift, and I
shouldn't wonder if this one were to have the property after all.
And then his father is very rich. I know that because Gregory told
me. Dear me! wouldn't it be odd if we were all three to become Mrs.
Newtons?"

"Clary, what did I tell you?"

"Well; I won't. But it would be odd,--and so nice, at least I think
so. Well;--I dare say I ought not to say it. But then I can't help
thinking it,--and surely I may tell you what I think."

"I would think it as little as I could, dear."

"Ah, that's very well. A girl can be a hypocrite if she pleases,
and perhaps she ought. Of course I shall be a hypocrite to all
the world except you. I tell you what it is, Patty;--you make me
tell you everything, and say that of course you and I are to tell
everything,--and then you scold me. Don't you want me to tell you
everything?"

"Indeed I do;--and I won't scold you. Dear Clary, do I scold you?
Wouldn't I give one of my eyes to make you happy?"

"That's quite a different thing," said Clarissa.

Three days afterwards Mr. Ralph Newton;--it is hoped that the reader
may understand the attempts which are made to designate the two young
men;--Mr. Ralph Newton appeared again at Popham Villa. He came in
almost with the gait of an old friend, and brought some fern leaves,
which he had already procured from Hampshire, in compliance with a
promise which he had made to Patience Underwood. "That's what we
call the hart's tongue," said he, "though I fancy they give them all
different names in different places."

"It's the same plant as ours, Mr. Newton,--only yours is larger."

"It's the ugliest of all the ferns," said Clary.

"Even that's a compliment,