ture."

Mr. Delancey looked somewhat disturbed, but drew a chair beside a large
writing-desk, and motioning his visitor to be seated, placed himself in
front of him.

"Nothing wrong about the last load of goods? No trouble with the boats,
is there, Wilkins?"

"Nothing of the kind, sir; my business, as I told you, is of a strictly
_private_ nature."

"Proceed, I am ready to listen."

"And will you, sir, listen to me calmly; and make no sudden outbreaks or
disturbance? I hate scenes, even with women, but with men, Heaven defend
me!"

"I know of nothing you could say, sir, that would call forth any such
ebullitions as you speak of; I am not a man of unnecessary words, as you
well know."

"What I have to say can be told in a few words. I would, perhaps, do
better to leave it unsaid; but I wish to repair, with what honor I can,
a course, which in itself has not, perhaps, been strictly honorable. Do
you know, sir, that I love your daughter?"

Mr. Delancey stared at the head clerk for a moment, like a man suddenly
struck dumb; then every trace of color vanished from his face.

"_My_ daughter, sir! You surely don't mean Della!"

"Have you, then, another daughter? I mean none other than Miss Della;
and I this night come to ask your consent to our union. We have loved
long and sincerely, and--"

"How dare you utter such words as these to me? You dare to tell me, that
a child of mine has stooped to notice her father's clerk?"

"Aye! not only has one stooped to _love_ a clerk, but has not the other
wedded a clerk's daughter? Mr. Delancey, I come to you as man to man;
put away the difference of your wealth, and I am as high as yourself; as
much a man, as high in station, and more honorable than yourself. Thus I
dare to seek your daughter's hand; and crave her father's blessing."

"Have a care, sir, of what you say--_more honorable_? you dare to tell
me that?"

"You know it to be the truth."

The merchant turned slightly pale.

"Mr. Wilkins, you put such a proposition as this you have suggested,
merely for--merely to try me; you surely do not, cannot mean it?"

"I mean it all, sir. I am not given to trifling on such matters, and I
have come to you like an honest man to ask your child's hand, and gain
consent or refusal."

"And Della loves you?"

"If I may believe her words, she does; and I have her sanction to tell
this to you."

Mr. Delancey started to his feet.

"And how have you dared, sir, to steal in