'Did you find him changed? It must be five years since you met.' 'He has grown stouter.' 'What did he talk about?' 'Ordinary things. He was very formal.' 'He was very much cut up when you broke off your engagement.' 'You never approved of it.' No, but it was not for me that you broke it off.' 'No, it wasn't on account of you.' The conversation paused. At last Harold said: 'Are you as indisposed as ever towards marriage? If Alfred were to propose again would you have him?' 'I really don't know. Do you want me to marry? I'm not very pleasant company, I'm well aware of that.' 'You know that I didn't mean that, Mildred. I don't want to press you into any marriage. I've always wished you to do what you like.' 'And I have done so.' 'I still want you to do what you like. But I can't forget that if I were to die to-morrow you would be practically alone in the world--a few cousins----' 'But what makes you think of dying? You're in as good health as ever.' 'I'm forty-three, and father died when he was forty-eight. He died of heart disease; I have suffered from my heart, so it is not probable that I shall make very old bones. If I were to die, you would inherit everything. What would become of this place--of this business? Isn't it natural that I should wish to see you settled in life?' 'You think that Alfred would be a suitable match? Would you like to see me marry him?' 'There's nothing against him; he's not very well off. But he's got on while you've been away. He's making, I should say now, at least 500 pounds a year. That isn't much, but to have increased his income from three to five hundred a year in five years proves that he is a steady man.' 'No one ever doubted Alfred's steadiness.' 'Mildred, it is time to have done with those sneers.' 'I suppose it is. I suppose what you say is right. I've been from pillar to post and nothing has come of it. Perhaps I was only fitted for marriage after all.' 'And for what better purpose could a woman be fitted?' 'We won't discuss that subject,' Mildred answered. 'If I'm to marry any one, as well Alfred as another.'