hen know my cousin's intention as a fact.
I doubt whether he knew it himself; but from what I had
heard I thought it probable, and, as I conceive that any
young lady would be fortunate in becoming my cousin's
wife, I had no scruple.

He has proposed to her, and she has rejected him. He has
set his heart upon the matter, and I am most anxious that
he should succeed, because I know him to be a man who
will not easily brook disappointment where he has set his
heart. Of all men I know he is the most steadfast in his
purpose.

I took the liberty of speaking to your niece on the
subject, and am disposed to think that she is deferred
by some feeling of foolish romance, partly because she
does not like the name, partly because my cousin is not a
handsome man in a girl's eyes;--more probably, however,
she has built up to herself some poetic fiction, and
dreams of she knows not what. If it be so, it is a pity
that she should lose an opportunity of settling herself
well and happily in life. She gave as a reason that she
did not love him. My experience is not so long as yours,
perhaps, but such as I have has taught me to think that
a wife will love her husband when she finds herself used
well at all points. Mercenary marriages are, of course,
bad: but it is a pity, I think, that a girl, such as your
niece, should lose the chance of so much happiness by a
freak of romance.

Colonel Stubbs, who is only twenty-eight years of age, has
a staff appointment at Aldershot. He has private means of
his own, on which alone he would be justified in marrying.
On the death of his uncle, General Stubbs, he will inherit
a considerable accession of fortune. He is not, of course,
a rich man; but he has ample for the wants of a family.
In all other good gifts, temper, manliness, truth, and
tenderness, I know no one to excel him. I should trust any
young friend of my own into his hands with perfect safety.

I have thought it right to tell you this. You will use
your own judgment in saying what you think fit to your
niece. Should she be made to understand that her own
immediate friends approve of the offer, she would probably
be induced to accept it. I have not heard my cousin say
what may be his future plans. I think it possible that,
as he is quite in earnest, he will not take one repulse.
Should he ask again, I ho