"I beg your pardon--both of you," he said. "I didn't know what I was saying. Make some allowance for me. All my hopes in life are centered in Natalie; and you have just told me (in her own words, Miss Lavinia) that she doesn't love. You don't mean any harm, I dare say; but you cut me to the heart." This confession, and the look that accompanied it, touched the ready sympathies of the two old people in the right place. The remainder of the story dropped between them by common consent. They vied with each other in saying the comforting words which would allay their dear Richard's anxiety. How little he knew of young girls. How could he be so foolish, poor fellow! as to attach any serious importance to what Natalie had said? As if a young creature in her teens knew the state of her own heart! Protestations and entreaties were matters of course, in such cases. Tears even might be confidently expected from a right-minded girl. It had all ended exactly as Richard would have wished it to end. Sir Joseph had said, "My child! this is a matter of experience; love will come when you are married." And Miss Lavinia had added, "Dear Natalie, if you remembered your poor mother as I remember her, you would know that your father's experience is to be relied on." In that way they had put it to her; and she had hung her head and had given--all that maiden modesty could be expected to give--a silent consent. "The wedding-day was fixed for the first week in the New Year." ("No, Joseph; not January--the New Year.") "And God bless you, Richard! and may your married life be a long and happy one." So the average ignorance of human nature, and the average belief in conventional sentiment, complacently contemplated the sacrifice of one more victim on the all-devouring altar of Marriage! So Sir Joseph and his sister provided Launcelot Linzie with the one argument which he wanted to convince Natalie: "Choose between making the misery of your life by marrying _him_, and making the happiness of your life by marrying _me._" "When shall I see her?" asked Turlington, with Miss Lavinia (in tears which did _her_ credit) in possession of one of his hands, and Sir Joseph (in tears which did _him_ credit) in possession of the other. "She will be back to dinner, dear Richard. Stay and dine." "Thank you. I must go into the City first. I will come back and dine." With that arrangement in prospect, he left them. An hour later a telegram arrived from Natalie. She had consented to dine, as well as lunch, in Berkeley Square--sleeping there that night, and returning the next morning. Her father instantly telegraphed back by the messenger, insisting on Natalie's return to Muswell Hill that evening, in time to meet Richard Turlington at dinner. "Quite right. Joseph," said Miss Lavinia, looking over her brother's shoulder, while he wrote the telegram.