o other reason, learn to look on him with affection and
gratitude as the author of her gilded ease. And so indeed she might
have done had she been of another and more common stamp. But,
unfortunately for his reasoning, there exist members of her sex who
are by nature of an order of mind superior to these considerations,
and who realise that they have but one life to live, and that the
highest form of happiness is /not/ dependent upon money or money's
worth, but rather upon the indulgence of mental aspirations and those
affections which, when genuine, draw nearer to holiness than anything
else about us. Such a woman, more especially if she is already
possessed with an affection for another man, does not easily become
reconciled to a distasteful lot, however quietly she may endure it,
and such a woman was Ida de la Molle.

Edward Cossey, when he reached Boisingham on the evening of his
engagement, at once wrote and posted a note to the Squire, saying that
he would call on the following morning about a matter of business.
Accordingly, at half-past ten o'clock, he arrived and was shown into
the vestibule, where he found the old gentleman standing with his back
to the fire and plunged in reflection.

"Well, Mr. de la Molle," said Edward, rather nervously, so soon as he
had shaken hands, "I do not know if Ida has spoken to you about what
took place between us yesterday."

"Yes," he said, "yes, she told me something to the effect that she had
accepted a proposal of marriage from you, subject to my consent, of
course; but really the whole thing is so sudden that I have hardly had
time to consider it."

"It is very simple," said Edward; "I am deeply attached to your
daughter, and I have been so fortunate as to be accepted by her.
Should you give your consent to the marriage, I may as well say at
once that I wish to carry out the most liberal money arrangements in
my power. I will make Ida a present of the mortgage that I hold over
this property, and she may put it in the fire. Further, I will
covenant on the death of my father, which cannot now be long delayed,
to settle two hundred thousand pounds upon her absolutely. Also, I am
prepared to agree that if we have a son, and he should wish to do so,
he shall take the name of de la Molle."

"I am sure," said the Squire, turning round to hide his natural
gratification at these proposals, "your offers on the subject of
settlements are of a most liberal order, and of course so