she
merely bowed, by way of giving a civil acquiescence in Sir Lionel's
last little suggestion.

"I have hoped so, dear Miss Todd"--he had taken a moment to consider,
and thought that he had better drop the Sarah altogether for the
present. "In myself, I can safely say that it has been so. With you,
I feel that I am happy, and at my ease. Your modes of thought and
way of life are all such as I admire and approve,"--Miss Todd again
bowed--"and--and--what I mean is, that I think we both live very much
after the same fashion."

Miss Todd, who knew everything that went on in Littlebath, and was
_au fait_ at every bit of scandal and tittle-tattle in the place,
had probably heard more of the fashion of Sir Lionel's life than he
was aware. In places such as Littlebath, ladies such as Miss Todd do
have sources of information which are almost miraculous. But still
she said nothing. She merely thought that Sir Lionel was a good deal
mistaken in the opinion which he had last expressed.

"I am not a young man," continued Sir Lionel. "My brother, you know,
is a very old man, and there are but fifteen years' difference
between us." This was a mistake of Sir Lionel's; the real difference
being ten years. "And you, I know, are hardly yet past your youth."

"I was forty-five last Guy Fawkes' day," said Miss Todd.

"Then there are fifteen years difference between us." The reader will
please to read "twenty." "Can you look over that difference, and take
me, old as I am, for your companion for life? Shall we not both be
happier if we have such a companion? As to money--"

"Oh, Sir Lionel, don't trouble about that; nor yet about your age.
If I wanted to marry, I'd as lief have an old man as a young one;
perhaps liefer: and as to money, I've got enough for myself, and I
have no doubt you have too"--nevertheless, Miss Todd did know of that
heavy over-due bill at the livery stables, and had heard that the
very natty groom who never left Sir Lionel's phaeton for a moment was
a sworn bailiff; sworn to bring the carriage and horses back to the
livery-stable yard--"but the fact is, I don't want to marry."

"Do you mean, Miss Todd, that you will prefer to live in solitude for
ever?"

"Oh, as for solitude, I'm not much of a Robinson Crusoe, nor yet an
Alexander Selkirk. I never found any of its charms. But, Lord bless
you, Sir Lionel, people never leave me in solitude. I'm never alone.
My sister Patty has fifteen children. I could have ha