lly
transferred from the sister to the brother, and became contradictions on
Sir Joseph's side.

"No," said Miss Lavinia, gently, "if you _will_ have it, Joseph--jam."

"I beg your pardon," persisted Sir Joseph; "marmalade."

"What _does_ it matter, brother?"

"Sister! the late great and good Doctor Johnson said accuracy ought
always to be studied even in the most trifling things."

"You _will_ have your way, Joseph--"(this was the formula--answering
to Sir Joseph's 'Let us waive the point'--which Miss Lavinia used, as
a means of conciliating her brother, and getting a fresh start for her
story). "Well, we took dear Natalie out between us, after breakfast,
for a little walk in the grounds. My brother opened the subject with
infinite delicacy and tact. 'Circumstances,' he said, 'into which it was
not then necessary to enter, made it very desirable, young as she was,
to begin to think of her establishment in life.' And then he referred,
Richard (so nicely), to your faithful and devoted attachment--"

"Excuse me, Lavinia. I began with Richard's attachment, and then I got
on to her establishment in life."

"Excuse _me_, Joseph. You managed it much more delicately than you
suppose. You didn't drag Richard in by the head and shoulders in that
way."

"Lavinia! I began with Richard."

"Joseph! your memory deceives you."

Turlington's impatience broke through all restraint.

"How did it end?" he asked. "Did you propose to her that we should be
married in the first week of the New Year?"

"Yes!" said Miss Lavinia.

"No!" said Sir Joseph.

The sister looked at the brother with an expression of affectionate
surprise. The brother looked at the sister with a fund of amiable
contradiction, expressed in a low bow.

"Do you really mean to deny, Joseph, that you told Natalie we had
decided on the first week in the New Year?"

"I deny the New Year, Lavinia. I said early in January."

"You _will_ have your way, Joseph! We were walking in the shrubbery at
the time. I had our dear girl's arm in mine, and I felt it tremble.
She suddenly stopped. 'Oh,' she said, 'not so soon!' I said, 'My dear,
consider Richard!' She turned to her father. She said, 'Don't, pray
don't press it so soon, papa! I respect Richard; I like Richard as your
true and faithful friend; but I don't love him as I ought to love him
if I am to be his wife.' Imagine her talking in that way! What could she
possibly know about it? Of course we both laughed-