"Do it at once, then," said Wynslade: "I have some thoughts of Miss Mansel myself, and perhaps I may cut you out." "I doubt that," replied Robertson; "you are but commencing business, and _my_ fortune is already made." "I thought," observed Wynslade, "you would marry only on condition of being loved for yourself alone." "I have given up that hope," answered Robertson, with a sort of sigh: "however, I was certainly a very pretty baby. I fear I must now be content to take a wife on the usual terms." "Be quick, then, with your proposal," said Wynslade, "for I am impatient to make mine." Wynslade then departed, and Robertson placed himself at his desk, and in a short time despatched to our heroine the following epistle, taking care to keep a copy of it: "MISS SELINA MANSEL:--Your statement last night was duly attended to; but further consideration may give another turn to the business. The following terms are the best I think proper to offer: "One Town House--1 Country House--4 Servants--2 Horses--1 Carriage--1 Chaise--1 Set of Jewels--1 New Dress per Month--4 Bonnets per Ann.--1 Tea-party on your Birthday--Ditto on mine--1 Dinner-party on each anniversary of our Wedding-day, till further orders--2 Plays per Season--and half an Opera. "If you are not satisfied with the T. H. and the C. H. you may take 1 trip per summer to the Springs or the Sea-shore. If the Parties on the B.D.'s and the W. D. are not deemed sufficient, you may have sundry others. "On your part I only stipulate for a dish of rice always at dinner, black tea, 6 cigars per day, to be smoked by me without remark from you--newspapers, chess, and sundries. Your politics to be always the same as mine. No gentlemen under fifty to be received, except at parties. No musician to be allowed to enter the house; nor any young doctor. "If you conclude to close with these conditions, let me have advice of it as soon as convenient, that I may wait upon you without loss of time. "Your most obt. servt. "JOHN W. ROBERTSON. "N.B. It may be well to mention, that with respect to furniture, I cannot allow a piano, considering them as nuisances. Shall not object to any reasonable number of sofas and rocking-chairs.--Astral lamps at discretion.--Beg to call your attention to the allowance of gowns and bonnets.--Consider it remarkably liberal.--With respect to dress, sundries of course." * * * * * To this letter half an hour brought a concise answer, containing a civil but decided refusal, which Mr. Robertson, though quite crest-fallen, could not forbear showing to Wynslade, telling him that he now withdrew from the market. On the following morning our hero left Somerford on a tour to Canada.