Mrs. Abernethy added to personal attractions of no common order, great good sense, and a very lively, ladylike manner. These had not been without their influence, on their first meeting; and a few additional interviews, which the usual precursor of an undefinable pleasure in her society served to accelerate, not only confirmed his first impressions, but seem to have deepened them into sentiments of warm respect and affection. Now, supposing his opinion formed, his resolution taken, there was still a difficulty—Abernethy was remarkably shy, and extremely sensitive. His whole time was absorbed in teaching, studying, and practising his profession; his rising ambition just getting success within its grasp. How was resolution or opportunity to be found for the tardigrade, time-consuming process of a regular siege? Still, after all, the shyness was the real Rubicon which he felt a difficulty in passing. Common Sense said to a sensitive Conscience, "You are about to ask a lady to entrust to you her happiness for life." "Ah!" said Conscience, "that is indeed a great deal to ask of any one." And Shyness said it was equally difficult to know what to say, how to make the request, or brook a refusal. The difficulty with Abernethy was so great, that there is some reason to doubt whether he could have got over it, had he been left entirely to his own resources. Mr. Hodgson, it seems, did not sympathize with Abernethy's scruples and difficulties, but simply encouraged him to overcome them. It is wonderful how even the greatest minds are influenced sometimes by a timely "pat on the back." We recollect a distinguished public man, and a peculiarly single-minded one too, once observing, that few people had any idea of the comfort which public men sometimes derived from any one, whom they imagined sincere, simply saying, "You were quite right, I think." Whatever Abernethy might, or might not, have owed to some little help of this kind, it is quite certain that he at last opened his heart to Miss Threlfall, or at least essayed so to do; but, apparently not very well assured that he had said what he intended _to say_, he supported it by a letter, which proved successful. This letter is still extant, and an interesting document it is. It forms a curious commentary on the numerous and dissimilar versions which have been given of it by gossip; all the versions we ever heard having had the common character of being in every respect entirely unlike the original. Here it is: "Tuesday.