Mary has gone
and engaged herself to her cousin, Walter Marrable."

"Mary Lowther!"

"Yes; Mary Lowther! Our Mary! And from what I remember hearing about
him, he is anything but nice."

"He had a lot of money left to him the other day."

"It can't have been much, because Mary owns that they will be very
poor. Here is her letter. I am so unhappy about it. Don't you
remember hearing about that Colonel Marrable who was in a horrible
scrape about somebody's wife?"

"You shouldn't judge the son from the father."

"They've been in the army together, and they're both alike. I hate
the army. They are almost always no better than they should be."

"That's true, my dear, certainly of all services, unless it be the
army of martyrs; and there may be a doubt on the subject even as to
them. May I read it?"

"Oh, yes; she has been half ashamed of herself every word she has
written. I know her so well. To think that Mary Lowther should have
engaged herself to any man after two days' acquaintance!"

Mr. Fenwick read the letter through attentively, and then handed it
back.

"It's a good letter," he said.

"You mean that it's well written?"

"I mean that it's true. There are no touches put in to make effect.
She does love the one man, and she doesn't love the other. All I can
say is, that I'm very sorry for it. It will drive Gilmore out of the
place."

"Do you mean it?"

"I do, indeed. I never knew a man to be at the same time so strong
and so weak in such a matter. One would say that the intensity of his
affection would be the best pledge of his future happiness if he were
to marry the girl; but seeing that he is not to marry her, one cannot
but feel that a man shouldn't stake his happiness on a thing beyond
his reach."

"You think it is all up, then;--that she really will marry this man?"

"What else can I think?"

"These things do go off sometimes. There can't be much money,
because, you see, old Miss Marrable opposes the whole thing on
account of there not being income enough. She is anything but rich
herself, and is the last person of all the world to make a fuss about
money. If it could be broken off--."

"If I understand Mary Lowther," said Mr. Fenwick, "she is not the
woman to have her match broken off for her by any person. Of course I
know nothing about the man; but if he is firm, she'll be as firm."

"And then she has written to Mr. Gilmore," said Mrs. Fenwick.

"It's all up with Harry as far as thi