"Every body is congratulating me on coming here exactly at the right time. I have had such a successful practice so far, and am so confident of being able to support my family even in the style I used to talk about in the good college days; that if I could feel your consent to our marriage was willingly bestowed, I should have no more favors to ask of fortune. Dear Ned, any thing else under heaven that you could have asked me, except that I would resign the dear hand so confidingly trusted to my keeping, would have been granted without a word of dissent. I mean to prove myself such a model husband; and withal to act as teacher, that in time your prejudices, and those of that prim old maid will be disarmed." Finding it useless longer to resist, Edward paid several visits to New York for the purpose of consulting Mr. Van Husen in regard to finances. The old gentleman had a few thousand dollars which he had carefully hoarded for the education of his ward; and as she was still under age, he refused to give up more than was absolutely necessary for her fitting out. Rose Cottage was given by will to Edward; and he had heretofore refused to sell a foot of land, even when somewhat pressed for money; but he now resolved to part with a valuable house-lot rather than have his sister go penniless to her new home. He knew enough of Paul to be sure that in a house of his own, well furnished, he would be a more considerate husband than if the inmate of a fashionable hotel. With a definite purpose in view he made a journey to Chicago late in the month of November, and was so fortunate as to find a new house in a handsome block, on one of the main streets, which he immediately secured, and furnished; using for the latter purpose, a thousand dollars he had persuaded Mr. Van Husen to advance, from his sister's fund. Having accomplished his object, he returned home without having once met his old chum. He was delighted, however, to tell Gertrude and Hannah, that rumor spoke highly of the young attorney; who was bending the whole force of his mind to his business. Nor was the wardrobe of the child-bride so neglected as might have been supposed. Among Miss Goldby's relatives was a widow who kept a fashionable mantua-maker's establishment in the Empire city. To this place was conveyed a large, old fashioned camphor-wood trunk, in which Hannah had hoarded some articles formerly belonging to her mistress. There was a large velvet cloak, bought when Mrs. Wallingford had plenty of money; several dress patterns of muslin and gauze not made up; a lilac satin with abundance to make it into the present mode, beside shawls and laces in variety, and some valuable jewelry. Several entire days were devoted to shopping in search of more common articles, bed and table linen, etc., etc., so that when Mr. Dudley came on for his wife, he found five immense trunks marked Chicago, packed and ready for transportation. CHAPTER VI. NEWS FROM THE WEST.