articularly as her affections are not otherwise engaged. I am
satisfied with the answer you have given, Captain Bridgeman, and now I
shall point out to Amelia that I expect she will make up her mind to
accept Mr Flat."

Here Captain Bridgeman hesitated.

"Indeed, madam, if her affections are not otherwise engaged--I say--are
not engaged, madam, I do not think she could do better. Would, you like
me to sound Miss Amelia on the subject?"

"Really, Captain Bridgeman, it is very kind of you; you may, perhaps,
persuade her to listen to your friend Mr Flat."

"I will, at all events, ascertain her real sentiments, madam," said the
captain, rising; "and, if you please, I will say farewell for the
present."

As my grandmother anticipated, the scale, which had been so long
balanced by Captain Bridgeman, was weighed down in favour of marriage by
the death of my father Ben, and the unexpected fortune of 4,000 pounds.

The next day the captain proposed and was accepted, and six weeks from
that date my aunt Milly became his wife.

The wedding was very gay: some people did sneer at the match, but where
was there ever a match without a sneer? There are always and everywhere
people to be found who will envy the happiness of others. Some talked
about the private marine; this attack was met with the 4,000 pounds (or
rather 8,000 pounds per annum, for rumour, as usual, had doubled the
sum); others talked of the shop as _infra dig_; the set-off against
which was, the education and beauty of the bride. One or two subs'
wives declared that they would not visit Mrs Bridgeman; but when the
colonel and his lady called to congratulate the new-married couple, and
invited a large party in their own house to meet them, then then subs'
wives left their cards as soon as they could.

In a few weeks all was right again: my mother would not give up her
shop--it was too lucrative; but she was on more intimate terms with her
customers; and when people found that, although her sister was a
captain's lady, my mother had too much sense to be ashamed of her
position; why they liked her the better. Indeed, as she was still very
handsome, one or two of the marine officers, now that she was a widow,
paid her very assiduous court; but my mother had no intention of
entering again into the holy state--she preferred STATE _in quo_. She
had no one to care for but me, and for me she continued her shop and
library, although, I believe, she could have ret