"Oh! no; he told me that he was quite able to take care of himself, and that he had, I think he called it, an asthma, but nothing else the matter; and that he would give no trouble at all, and that any friend who came to see him, he would see, not in the house, but only in the garden." "In the garden!" I echoed, laughing in spite of myself. "Yes, indeed he said so; and he told me to say that he would pay one hundred pounds when he came here, and the next hundred in six months, and so on," continued she. "Oh, ho! half-yearly in advance--better and better," said I. "And he bid me say, too, if you should ask about his character, that he is just as good as the master of the house himself," she added; "and when he said that, he laughed a little." "Why, if he gives us a hundred pounds in advance," I answered, turning to my wife, "we are safe enough; for he will not find half that value in plate and jewels in the entire household, if he is disposed to rob us. So I see no reason against closing with the offer, should it be seriously meant--do you, dear?" "Quite the contrary, love," said she. "I think it most desirable--indeed, most _providential_." "Providential! my dear little bigot!" I repeated, with a smile. "Well, be it so. I call it _lucky_ merely; but, perhaps, you are happier in your faith, than I in my philosophy. Yes, you are _grateful_ for the chance that I only rejoice at. You receive it as a proof of a divine and tender love--I as an accident. Delusions are often more elevating than truth." And so saying, I kissed away the saddened cloud that for a moment overcast her face. "Papa, he bid me be sure to have an answer for him when we meet again," resumed the child. "What shall I say to him when he asks me?" "Say that we agree to his proposal, my dear--or stay," I said, addressing my wife, "may it not be prudent to reduce what the child says to writing, and accept the offer so? This will prevent misunderstanding, as she may possibly have made some mistake."