love
her, I daresay. I have not had much experience of the tender passion
since I was jilted by an Oxford barmaid--whom I would have married, by
Jove. But the truth is, the lady in question isn't free to marry just
yet. There's a husband in the case--a feeble old Anglo-Indian, who can't
live very long. Don't look so glum, old fellow; there has been nothing
wrong, not a word that all the world might not hear; but there are signs
and tokens by which a man, without any vanity--and heaven knows I have no
justification for that--may be sure a woman likes him. In short, I
believe that if Adela Branston were a widow, the course would lie clear
before me, and I should have nothing to do but go in and win. And the
stakes will be worth winning, I assure you."

"But this Mr. Branston may live for an indefinite number of years, during
which you will be wasting your life on a shadow."

"Not very likely. Poor old Branston came home from Calcutta a confirmed
invalid, and I believe his sentence has been pronounced by all the
doctors. In the mean time he makes the best of life, has his good days
and bad days, and entertains a great deal of company at a delightful
place near Maidenhead--with a garden sloping to the river like that you
were talking of just now, only on a very extensive scale. You know how
often I have wanted you to run down there with me, and how there has been
always something to prevent your going."

"Yes, I remember. Rely upon it, I shall contrive to accept the next
invitation, come what may. But I can't say I like the idea of this
prospective kind of courtship, or that I consider it quite worthy of you,
Saltram."

"My dear Gilbert, when a fellow is burdened with debt and of a naturally
idle disposition, he is apt to take rather a liberal view of such means
of advancement in life as may present themselves to him. But there is no
prospective courtship--nothing at all resembling a courtship in this
case, believe me. Mrs. Branston knows that I like and admire her. She
knows as much of almost every man who goes to Rivercombe; for there are
plenty who will be disposed to go in against me for the prize by-and-by.
But I think that she likes me better than any one else, and that the
chances will be all in my favour. From first to last there has not been a
word spoken between us which old Branston himself might not hear. As to
Adela's marrying again when he is gone, he could scarcely be so fatuous
as not to foresee the prob