to excuse her rashness, or, at least, palliate
her fault. It went to say, that her father's acknowledgment of her, was
all she needed or cared for, to complete her happiness, and asking for
his permission to seek it in person. This was the substance of the
letter, which upon the whole, satisfied me, and I waited anxiously for
the reply. At the end of five days the answer arrived. It was thus:--

"'Dear Mary,

"'You have chosen your own path in life, and having done so, I have
neither the right nor inclination to interfere with your decision;
I shall neither receive you, nor the person you have made your
husband; and to prevent any further disappointment, inform you that,
as I leave this to-morrow, any future letters you might think proper
to address, will not reach me.

"'Yours very faithful,
C. Kamworth, Hydrabad Cottage.'

"This was a tremendous coup, and not in the least anticipated by either
of us; upon me the effect was stunning, knowing, as I did, that our
fast-diminishing finances were nearly expended. Mary on the other hand,
who neither knew nor thought of the exchequer, rallied at once from her
depression, and after a hearty fit of crying, dried her eyes, and putting
her arm round my neck, said:

"'Well, Jack, I must only love you the more, since papa will not share
any of my affection.'

"'I wish he would his purse though,' muttered I, as I pressed her in my
arms, and strove to seem perfectly happy.

"I shall not prolong my story by dwelling upon the agitation this letter
cost me; however, I had yet a hundred pounds left, and an aunt in
Harley-street, with whom I had always been a favourite. This thought,
the only rallying one I possessed, saved me for the time; and as fretting
was never my forte, I never let Mary perceive that any thing had gone
wrong, and managed so well in this respect, that my good spirits raised
her's, and we set out for London one fine sunshiny morning, as happy a
looking couple as ever travelled the north road.

"When we arrived at the 'Clarendon,' my first care was to get into a cab,
and drive to Harley-street. I rung the bell; and not waiting to ask if
my aunt was at home, I dashed up stairs to the drawing-room; in I bolted,
and instead of the precise old Lady Lilford, sitting at her embroidery,
with her fat poodle beside her, beheld a strapping looking fellow, with