axed him; simply that. She has made herself so much his master
that he doesn't know how to say no to her. Sometimes I have thought
that he might possibly run away, but I have abandoned that fear now.
She has little confidences with him from day to day, which are so
alluring to him that he cannot tear himself off. In the middle of one
of them he will find himself engaged."

"But, the unfortunate girl! Won't it be a wretched marriage for her?"

"Not at all. She'll make him a very good wife. He's one of those men
to whom any woman, after a little time, will come to be the same.
He'll be rough with her once a month or so, and perhaps tell her that
she brought no money with her; but that won't break any bones, and
Charlie will know how to fight her own battles. She'll save his
money if she brings none, and in a few years' time they will quite
understand each other."

Mr Cheesacre and Captain Bellfield were at this time living in
lodgings together, at Penrith, but came over and spent every other
day at Vavasor, returning always to their lodgings in the evening.
It wanted but eight days to the marriage when Alice arrived, and
preparations for that event were in progress. "It's to be very quiet,
Alice," said her aunt; "as quiet as such a thing can be made. I owe
that to the memory of the departed one. I know that he is looking
down upon me, and that he approves all that I do. Indeed, he told
me once that he did not want me to live desolate for his sake. If I
didn't feel that he was looking down and approving it, I should be
wretched indeed." She took Alice up to see her trousseau, and gave
the other expectant bride some little hints which, under present
circumstances, might be useful. "Yes, indeed; only three-and-sixpence
a piece, and they're quite real. Feel them. You wouldn't get them in
the shops under six." Alice did feel them, and wondered whether her
aunt could have saved the half-crown honestly. "I had my eyes about
me when I was up in town, my dear. And look here, these are quite
new,--have never been on yet, and I had them when I was married
before. There is nothing like being careful, my dear. I hate
meanness, as everybody knows who knows me; but there is nothing like
being careful. You have a lot of rich people about you just now, and
will have ever so many things given you which you won't want. Do
you put them all by, and be careful. They may turn out useful, you
know." Saying this, Mrs Greenow folded up, among h