t study. She did not doubt but that he was good, and true, and
noble-minded; but it might be possible that a man good, true, and
noble-minded, might have lived with so many indulgences around him
as to be unable to achieve the constancy of heart which would be
necessary for such a life as that which would be now before them if
they married. She had told him that he should decide for himself
and for her also,--thus throwing upon him the responsibility, and
throwing upon him also, very probably, the necessity of a sacrifice.
She had meant to be generous and trusting; but it might be that of
all courses that which she had adopted was the least generous. In
order that she might put this wrong right, if there were a wrong,
she had asked him to come and walk with her. They met at the usual
spot, and she put her hand through his arm with her accustomed smile,
leaning upon him somewhat heavily for a minute, as girls do when they
want to show that they claim the arm that they lean on as their own.

"Have you told Parson John?" said Mary.

"Oh, yes."

"And what does he say?"

"Just what a crabbed, crafty, selfish old bachelor of seventy would
be sure to say."

"You mean that he has told you to give up all idea of comforting
yourself with a wife."

"Just that."

"And Aunt Sarah has been saying exactly the same to me. You can't
think how eloquent Aunt Sarah has been. And her energy has quite
surprised me."

"I don't think Aunt Sarah was ever much of a friend of mine," said
the Captain.

"Not in the way of matrimony; in other respects she approves of you
highly, and is rather proud of you as a Marrable. If you were only
heir to the title, or something of that kind, she would think you the
finest fellow going."

"I wish I could gratify her, with all my heart."

"She is such a dear old creature! You don't know her in the least,
Walter. I am told she was ever so pretty when she was a girl; but she
had no fortune of her own at that time, and she didn't care to marry
beneath her position. You mustn't abuse her."

"I've not abused her."

"What she has been saying I am sure is very true; and I dare say
Parson John has been saying the same thing."

"If she has caused you to change your mind, say so at once, Mary. I
shan't complain."

Mary pressed his arm involuntarily, and loved him so dearly for the
little burst of wrath. Was it really true that he, too, had set his
heart upon it?--that all that the crafty old uncle h