sposed to marry a man
simply because he cried, and perhaps few women would be less likely
to give way to such tenderness than Mrs Greenow. She understood men
and women too well, and had seen too much both of the world's rough
side and of its smooth side to fall into such a blunder as that; but
she was touched. "My friend," she said, putting her hand upon his
arm, "think no more of it."

"But I can't help thinking of it," said he, almost blubbering in his
earnestness.

"No, no, no," said she, still touching him with her hand. "Why, Mr
Cheesacre, how can you bring yourself to care for an old woman like
me, when so many pretty young ladies would give their eyes to get a
kind word from you?"

"I don't want any young lady," said he.

"There's Charlie Fairstairs, who would make as good a wife as any
girl I know."

"Psha! Charlie Fairstairs, indeed!" The very idea of having such a
bride palmed off upon him did something to restore him to his manly
courage.

"Or my niece, Kate Vavasor, who has a nice little fortune of her own,
and who is as accomplished as she is good-looking."

"She's nothing to me, Mrs Greenow."

"That's because you never asked her to be anything. If I get her to
come back to Yarmouth next summer, will you think about it? You want
a wife, and you couldn't do better if you searched all England over.
It would be so pleasant for us to be such near friends; wouldn't it?"
And again she put her hand upon his arm.

"Mrs Greenow, just at present there's only one woman in the world
that I can think of."

"And that's my niece."

"And that's yourself. I'm a broken-hearted man,--I am, indeed. I
didn't ever think I should feel so much about a thing of the kind--I
didn't, really. I hardly know what to do with myself; but I suppose
I'd better go back to Oileymead." He had become so painfully
unconscious of his new coat and his knickerbockers that it was
impossible not to pity him. "I shall always hate the place now," he
said,--"always."

"That will pass away. You'd be as happy as a king there, if you'd
take Kate for your queen."

"And what'll you do, Mrs Greenow?"

"What shall I do?"--"Yes; what will you do?"

"That is, if you marry Kate? Why, I'll come and stay with you half my
time, and nurse the children, as an old grand-aunt should."

"But about--." Then he hesitated, and she asked him of what he was
thinking.

"You don't mean to take that man Bellfield, do you?"

"Come, Mr Cheesacre, that's r