rse I will tell you.

Your most affectionate friend,

MARY LOWTHER.

The former letter of the two was shown to Miss Marrable. That lady
was of opinion that it should not be sent; but would not say that, if
to be sent, it could be altered for the better.

CHAPTER XXI.

WHAT PARSON JOHN THINKS ABOUT IT.

[Illustration]

On that same Thursday, the Thursday on which Mary Lowther wrote her
two despatches to Bullhampton, Miss Marrable sent a note down to
Parson John, requesting that she might have an interview with him.
If he were at home and disengaged, she would go down to him that
evening, or he might, if he pleased, come to her. The former she
thought would be preferable. Parson John assented, and very soon
after dinner the private brougham came round from the Dragon, and
conveyed Miss Marrable down to the rectory at Lowtown.

"I am going down to Parson John," said she to Mary. "I think it best
to speak to him about the engagement."

Mary received the information with a nod of her head that was
intended to be gracious, and Aunt Sarah proceeded on her way. She
found her cousin alone in his study, and immediately opened the
subject which had brought her down the hill. "Walter, I believe, has
told you about this engagement, Mr. Marrable."

"Never was so astonished in my life! He told me last night. I had
begun to think that he was getting very fond of her, but I didn't
suppose it would come to this."

"Don't you think it very imprudent?"

"Of course it's imprudent, Sarah. It don't require any thinking to
be aware of that. It's downright stupid;--two cousins with nothing
a year between them, when no doubt each of them might do very well.
They're well-born, and well-looking, and clever, and all that. It's
absurd, and I don't suppose it will ever come to anything."

"Did you tell Walter what you thought?"

"Why should I tell him? He knows what I think without my telling him;
and he wouldn't care a pinch of snuff for my opinion. I tell you
because you ask me."

"But ought not something to be done to prevent it?"

"What can we do? I might tell him that I wouldn't have him here
any more, but I shouldn't like to do that. Perhaps she'll do your
bidding."

"I fear not, Mr. Marrable."

"Then you may be quite sure he won't do mine. He'll go away and
forget her. That'll be the end of it. It'll be as good as a year gone
out of her life, and she'll lose this other lover of hers at--what's
the name