t even a
book in her hand; in very truth, passing an hour in an endeavour to
decide what, in the present emergency, she ought to say or do. Mary
stooped over her and kissed her, and the aunt returned her niece's
caresses.

"Do not let you and me quarrel, at any rate," said Miss Marrable.
"Who else is there that I care for? Whose happiness is anything to me
except yours?"

"Then come to him, and tell him that he also shall be dear to you."

"No; at any rate, not now. Of course you can marry, Mary, without any
sanction from me. I do not pretend that you owe to me that obedience
which would be due to a mother. But I cannot say,--at least, not
yet,--that such sanction as I have to give can be given to this
engagement. I have a dread that it will come to no good. It grieves
me. I do not forbid you to receive him; but for the present it would
be better that I should not see him."

"What is her objection?" demanded Walter, with grave indignation.

"She thinks we shall be poor."

"Shall we ask her for anything? Of course we shall be poor. For the
present there will be but L300 a year, or thereabouts, beyond my
professional income. A few years back, if so much had been secured,
friends would have thought that everything necessary had been done.
If you are afraid, Mary--"

"You know I am not afraid."

"What is it to her, then? Of course we shall be poor,--very poor. But
we can live."

There did come upon Mary Lowther a feeling that Walter spoke of the
necessity of a comfortable income in a manner very different from
that in which he had of late been discussing the same subject ever
since she had known him. He had declared that it was impossible that
he should exist in England as a bachelor on his professional income,
and yet surely he would be poorer as a married man with that L300
a year added to it, than he would have been without it, and also
without a wife. But what girl that loves a man can be angry with him
for such imprudence and such inconsistency? She had already told him
that she would be ready, if it were necessary, to go with him to
India. She had said so before she went up to her aunt's room. He had
replied that he hoped no such sacrifice would be demanded from her.
"There can be no sacrifice on my part," she had replied, "unless I
am required to give up you." Of course he had taken her in his arms
and kissed her. There are moments in one's life in which not to be
imprudent, not to be utterly, childishly