been wont to discuss the chances of matrimony.
Should he die, without having an heir, his title and property would
go to his cousin, Captain Geraldine, who was a man some fifteen years
younger than himself and already in possession of a large fortune.
There were many people in the world whom Sir Francis hated, but none
whom he hated so cordially as his cousin. Three or four years since
he had been ill, nearly to dying, and had declared that he never
would have recovered but for the necessity that he was under to keep
his cousin out of the baronetage. It had therefore become imperative
on him to marry in order that there might be an heir to the property.
And though he had for a few weeks been perfectly contented with his
Cecilia, there could be no doubt that he had experienced keenly the
sense of relief when she had told him that the engagement must be at
an end. Another marriage must be arranged, but there would be time
for that; and he would take care, that on this occasion he would not
put himself into the hands of one who was _exigeante_ and had a will
of her own. "By Gad," he said to his particular friend, Dick Ross, "I
would almost sooner that my cousin Walter had the property than put
it and myself into the hands of such a virago."

"You'll only get another," said Dick, "that will not let on, but will
turn out to be twice as bad in the washing."

"That I hardly think probable. There are many things which go to the
choice of a wife, and the worst of it is that they are not compatible
one with another. A woman should be handsome; but then she is proud.
A woman should have a certain air of dignity; but when she has got
it she knows that herself, and shows it off in the wrong place. She
should be young; but if she is too young she is silly: wait a little
and she becomes strong-minded and headstrong. If she don't read
anything she becomes an ass and a bore; but if she do she despises a
man because he is not always doing the same thing. If she is a nobody
the world thinks nothing of her. If she come of high birth she thinks
a deal too much of herself. It is difficult."

"I'd have nothing to do with any of them," said Dick Ross.

"And let that puppy come in! He wrote to me to congratulate me on my
marriage, just when he knew it was off."

"I'll tell you what I'd do," said Dick. "I'd marry some milk-maid and
keep her down on the property. I'd see that it was all done legally,
and I'd take the kid away when he was th