to marry
Bijou, and she don't want to marry any of them that I know of. And I guess
I shall be told when the affair comes off, so that I can order the
wedding-cake. Why, they are just all young people together. It don't mean
anything. They just naturally like each other's society. They are amusing
themselves,--that's all; and quite right, too."

Mr. Ramsay had never conceived of such a philosophical parent or agreeable
state of affairs. He was very much embarrassed, and caught at a familiar
idea in his confusion. "That's what I thought you would think,--that I was
amusin' myself. And I wanted to tell you that I am not, you know. I have
far too much respect for Miss Brown to dream of doin' such a thing," he
said very eagerly.

"Oh, you mean at her expense? I understand now. Well, now, let me make
your mind perfectly easy on that score. Bijou can take care of herself as
well as any girl in America, and I never thought of such a thing. If you
are thinking of _her_, that's all right. If you are thinking of yourself,
of course that is another thing. She isn't thinking of marrying _you_. She
doesn't care anything about you in that way, I am certain. I should have
noticed it if she had been," said Mr. Brown, who labored under the usual
parental delusion as to his daughter's heart having a glass window through
which he could see all that went on there.

"I am tryin' to do what is best for both of us," said Mr. Ramsay honestly,
blushing profusely. "And I came to say good-by. And here is a little note
I have written Miss Brown. I have left it open, in case you wished to see
it."

"Not at all,--not at all. Bijou would blow me up sky-high if she caught me
reading it, I can tell you. I'll give it to her, certainly. I think you
are giving yourself unnecessary concern; but your scruples, though novel,
do you honor. If you think it best to give us up, you are, as far as you
are personally concerned, the best judge. Good-by. Send us a line to say
how you like the West. Good-by," said Mr. Brown, and smilingly accompanied
him to the front door.

Papa Brown gave his daughter the note, which ran as follows:

"MY DEAR MISS BROWN,--I am going away, and you have been so awfully kind
to me that I know you will excuse me writing to say how awfully grateful I
am to your family for receiving a stranger as they have done."

Here "I shall often think of you" was carefully scratched out, and "I
shall always remember it and the pleasant hours