ll, sir, if I am to make a sacrifice, it shall not be done by
halves; out of respect for you I will even marry in July, without any
regard to the thermometer.'

"`You are a good boy, William. Do you want a cheque?'

"`I have had one to-day,' thought William, and was almost at fault. `I
shall be most thankful, sir--they sell horse-flesh by the ounce
now-a-days.'

"`And you pay in pounds. There, William.'

"`Thank you, sir, I'm all obedience; and I'll keep my word, even if
there should be a comet. I'll go and buy the horse, and then I shall be
ready to take the ring-fence as soon as you please.'

"`Yes, and you'll get over it cleverly, I've no doubt. Five thousand
acres, William, and--a pretty wife!'

"`Have you any further commands, uncle?' said William, depositing the
cheque in his pocket-book.

"`None, my dear boy: are you going?'

"`Yes, sir; I dine at the Clarendon.'

"`Well, then, good-bye. Make my compliments and excuses to your friend
Seagrove. You will come on Tuesday or Wednesday.'

"Thus was concluded the marriage between William Ponsonby and Emily
Percival, and the junction of the two estates, which formed together the
great desideratum--_five thousand acres in a ring-fence_."

Mr Seagrove finished, and he looked round for approbation.

"Very good, indeed, Seagrove," said his lordship; "you must take a glass
of wine after that."

"I would not give much for Miss Percival's chance of happiness,"
observed the elder Miss Ossulton.

"Of two evils choose the least, they say," observed Mr Hautaine. "Poor
Ponsonby could not help himself."

"That's a very polite observation of yours, Mr Hautaine--I thank you in
the name of the sex," replied Cecilia Ossulton.

"Nay, Miss Ossulton; would you like to marry a person whom you never
saw?"

"Most certainly not; but when you mentioned the two evils, Mr Hautaine,
I appeal to your honour, did you not refer to marriage or beggary?"

"I must confess it, Miss Ossulton; but it is hardly fair to call on my
honour to get me into a scrape."

"I only wish that the offer had been made to me," observed Vaughan; "I
should not have hesitated as Ponsonby did."

"Then I beg you will not think of proposing for me," said Mrs
Lascelles, laughing; for Mr Vaughan had been excessively attentive.

"It appears to me, Vaughan," observed Seagrove, "that you have slightly
committed yourself by that remark."

Vaughan, who thought so too, replied: "Mrs Lascelles must be