very intimate, the two ladies in Uphill Lane and the
Captain from his uncle's parsonage in the Lowtown; and the intimacy
on his part was quite as strong with the younger as with the elder
relative,--quite as strong, and no doubt more pleasant. They walked
together constantly, as cousins may walk, and they discussed every
turn that took place in the correspondence with Messrs. Block and
Curling. Captain Marrable had come to his uncle's house for a week or
ten days, but had been pressed to remain on till this business should
be concluded. His leave of absence lasted till the end of November,
and might be prolonged if he intended to return to India. "Stay here
till the end of November," said Parson John. "What's the use of
spending your money at a London hotel? Only don't fall in love with
cousin Mary." So the Captain did stay, obeying one half of his
uncle's advice, and promising obedience to the other half.

Aunt Sarah also had her fears about the falling in love, and spoke a
prudent word to Mary. "Mary, dear," she said, "you and Walter are as
loving as turtle doves."

"I do like him so much," said Mary, boldly.

"So do I, my dear. He is a gentleman, and clever, and, upon the
whole, he bears a great injury well. I like him. But I don't think
people ought to fall in love when there is a strong reason against
it."

"Certainly not, if they can help it."

"Pshaw! That's missish nonsense, Mary, and you know it. If a girl
were to tell me she fell in love because she couldn't help it, I
should tell her that she wasn't worth any man's love."

"But what's your reason, Aunt Sarah?"

"Because it wouldn't suit Mr. Gilmore."

"I am not bound to suit Mr. Gilmore."

"I don't know about that. And then, too, it would not suit Walter
himself. How could he marry a wife when he has just been robbed of
all his fortune?"

"But I have not the slightest idea of falling in love with him. In
spite of what I said, I do hope that I can help it. And then I feel
to him just as though he were my brother. I've got almost to know
what it would be to have a brother."

In this Miss Lowther was probably wrong. She had now known her
cousin for just a month. A month is quite long enough to realise the
pleasure of a new lover, but it may be doubted whether the intimacy
of a brother does not take a very much longer period for its
creation.

"I think if I were you," said Miss Marrable, after a pause, "that I
would tell him about Mr. Gilmore."