of life--as he put it to himself--her dislike to the great
town where all his interests lay--these were traits which troubled him
out of proportion to their intrinsic worth. How could he be happy with a
woman who differed from him so entirely in habits, taste, and training?
He forgot for a moment that he had asked her to marry him in order that
she might be made happy--that he had solemnly put aside from himself all
thought of personal joy. But human nature is weak, and renunciation not
always pleasant. It occurred to his mind that Enid herself might not be
very happy if married to a man with whom she was not in sympathy.

It was half with relief, half with regret, that he listened to a
monologue from the General on the subject of Enid's marriage.

"I always disapproved of early marriages," he said sapiently; "they
never turn out well. And Enid is delicate; she must not take the cares
of a household upon her until she is older and stronger. Don't ask me
for her until she is twenty-one, Hubert! She shall not marry till then
with my consent." He had never spoken so strongly before; but he was
reinforced by Flossy's recently-bestowed approval. Till within the last
few days, Flossy had been all for a speedy marriage. She said now that
she was convinced that her "dear Richard" was perfectly right, and the
General was "cock-a-hoop" accordingly. "I need not threaten; you know
very well that I have the whole control of the money that would go to
her dowry--I need say nothing more. I will have no marriage talked
about--no engagement even--for the present. Mind you, Enid is not
engaged to you, Hubert. If she thinks fit to change her mind, she may do
so."

"Certainly, sir."

"And, if you think fit to change your mind, you may do so too. Nobody
wants either of you to marry where you do not love; the worst thing in
the world!"

"When is this prohibition to be removed?" asked Hubert. "It seems to me
a little hard upon--upon us both."

"If Enid is stronger, I will allow her to be engaged in a year's time,"
said the General, "but not before; and I shall tell her so."

The first time that Hubert found himself alone with Enid he said--

"The General seems to have changed his mind about our engagement, Enid."

"Yes; he told me so," she answered meekly.

"He says we are not to consider ourselves engaged."

"Yes."

"I am very sorry that he should take that view----"

"Don't be sorry, please!" she said, quickly interrupting hi