childhood; he's some three
or four years older than she is, to be sure, but that makes little
difference."

"And, I suppose, Mrs. Goodwin, their intimacy--perhaps I may say
attachment--has the sanction of their respective families?"

"God bless you, sir, to be sure it has--are they not distantly related?"

"That, indeed, is a very usual proceeding among families," observed
Woodward; "the boy and girl are thrown together, and desired to look
upon each other as destined to become husband and wife; they accordingly
do so, fall in love, are married, and soon find themselves--miserable;
in fact, these matches seldom turn out well."

"But there is no risk of that here," replied Alice.

"I sincerely hope not, Miss Goodwin. In your case, unless the husband
was a fool, or a madman, or a villain, there must be happiness. Of
course you will be happy with him; need I say," and here he sighed,
"that he at least ought to be so with you?"

"Upon my word, Mr. Woodward," replied Alice, smiling, "you are a much
cleverer man than I presume your own modesty ever permitted you to
suspect."

"I don't understand you," he replied, with a look of embarrassment.

"Why," she proceeded, "here have you, in a few minutes, made up a match
between two persons who never were intended to be married at all; you
have got the sanction of two families to a union which neither of
them even for a moment contemplated. Dear me, sir, may not a lady and
gentleman become acquainted without necessarily falling in love?"

"Ah, but, in your case, my dear Miss Goodwin, it would be
difficult--impossible I should say--to remain indifferent, if the
gentleman had either taste or sentiment; however, I assure you I am
sincerely glad to find that I have been mistaken."

"God bless me, Mr. Woodward," said Mrs. Goodwin, "did you think they
were sweethearts?"

"Upon my honor, madam, I did--and I was very sorry for it."

"Mr. Woodward," replied Alice, "don't mistake me; I am inaccessible to
flattery."

"I am delighted to hear it," said he, "because I know that for that
reason you are not and will not be insensible to truth."

"Unless when it borrows the garb of flattery, and thus causes itself to
be suspected."

"In that case," said Woodward, "nothing but good sense, Miss Goodwin,
can draw the distinction between them--and now I know that you are
possessed of that."

"I hope so, sir," she replied, "and that I will ever continue to observe
that distinction.