man and Lieutenant Flat, were more unremitting than ever.

It appeared that, as the death of Ben had removed the great difficulty
to my aunt's being married to an officer, my grandmother had resolved to
ascertain the intentions of Captain Bridgeman, and if she found that he
cried off, to persuade Milly to consent to become Mrs Flat. Whether
she consulted my mother or my aunt on this occasion, I cannot positively
say, but I rather think not.

My mother and my aunt were walking out one evening, when Captain
Bridgeman came in, and my grandmother, who remained in the shop whenever
my mother and Milly went out together, which was very seldom, requested
him to walk into the back parlour, desiring me to remain in the shop,
and let her know if she was wanted.

Now when they went into the parlour, the door was left ajar, and, as I
remained at the back part of the shop, I could not help over-hearing
every word which was said; for my grandmother being very deaf, as most
deaf people do, talked quite as loud as Captain Bridgeman was compelled
to do, to make her hear him.

"I wish, Captain Bridgeman, as a friend, to ask your advice relative to
my daughter Amelia," said the old lady. "Please to take a chair."

"If there is any opinion that I can offer on the subject, madam, I shall
be most happy to give it," replied the captain, sitting down as
requested.

"You see, my daughter Amelia has been well brought up, and carefully
educated, as was, indeed, my daughter, Arabella, through the kindness of
my old patron, Mrs Delmar, the aunt of the Honourable Captain Delmar,
whom you have often met here, and who is heir to the title of de
Versely; that is to say, his eldest brother has no children. I have
been nearly fifty years in the family as a confidential, Captain
Bridgeman; the old lord was very fond of my husband, who was his
steward, but he died, poor man, a long while ago; I am sure it would
have broken his heart, if, in his lifetime, my daughter Arabella had
made the foolish marriage which she did with a private marine--however,
what's done can't be helped, as the saying is--that's all over now."

"It was certainly a great pity that Mrs Keene should have been so
foolish," replied Captain Bridgeman, "but, as you say, that is all over
now."

"Yes; God's will be done, Captain Bridgeman; now you see, sir, that this
marriage of Bella's has done no good to the prospects of her sister
Amelia, who, nevertheless, is a good and prett