e
tender passion, which, despite of frost and snow, can endow all nature
with the hues and odours of spring. So, at least, it was with me. I met my
charmer every day, and at length succeeded in extorting from her lips the
only confession, to obtain which the labour of years is but a trifling
sacrifice. What a pleasant thing it would be, if, in those matters, there
was nothing more to consult than the inclinations of the parties who are
principally concerned! What, in the name of cross-purposes, have parents
to do with controlling the affections of their children? Thirty years ago,
there is not one of them who would have submitted patiently to the
dictation which they now exercise without scruple. I sometimes wonder
whether, twenty years after this, I shall continue of the same opinion;
but, thank heaven, there is ample time for consideration--Poor dear little
Jemima is only cutting her teeth.

Mary was quite alive to the difficulties which stood in her way. Old
Morgan loved her, it is true; but it was that sort of love which
antiquarians and coin-collectors have for their rarest specimens--they
cannot bear to see them for a moment in the hands of others. Wealth alone
could bribe the doctor to part with his child, and, alas! of that I had
little or nothing. True, I might be considered as uncle Dodger's
prospective heir; but that esteemed gentleman was as tough as
India-rubber, and very nearly as good a life as my own. Professional
prospects--ahem!--they might do to talk about in Wales; certainly not in
Edinburgh, where few lawyers are accounted prophets.

In this dilemma, I resolved to take sweet counsel with the Saxon, having
no one else to apply to. As I had neglected him horribly for the last few
days, he was rather sulky, until I gave him to understand that I was in
downright earnest. Then you may be sure he brightened up amazingly. There
was mischief evidently in the wind.

"That comes of your confounded Scotch education," said Cutts, interrupting
a very pretty speech of mine about honourable conduct and disinterested
motives. "Who doubts that you are perfectly disinterested? Of course it's
the girl, and not the money you want. She _does_ happen to have twenty
thousand, but you don't care about that--you would marry her without a
shilling, wouldn't you?"

"By the bones of King David the First"----

"That's enough. Don't disturb the repose of the respectable old
gentleman--he might not be over happy if he saw hi