Here we must explain, though it is a great pity that circumstances compel us to state the fact, that this said gallant colonel had previously been employed in that service by other right honorable gentlemen, and therefore he regarded the matter lightly, and thought that he had nothing else to do than state the terms and establishment. But Lord Spoonbill did not apprehend that the lady in question would be so lightly won. “Ah, Crop!” said his lordship, “you don’t know the lady. She is almost a prude; but I love her the more for her very obstinacy.” The colonel had some notion of what was meant by a prude; but, according to the best of his recollection, the young lady whom he had seen at Neverden Hall was not mightily prudish in her manners. And then the military man smiled, and replied to his lordship’s observation: “Trust me, if you make an offer of a handsome establishment, I will bring her up to town in a very short time.” Lord Spoonbill was encouraged greatly by the smile which he saw upon the colonel’s countenance, and began to think that his friend Crop had really some reason for what he had said. And then in the fullness of his heart his lordship went on to say:-- “Crop, my dear friend, you know that, situated as I am now, I can do nothing for you; but it is my full intention, if I can get leave of my father to go over to the other side, and then if Penelope is mine, mine on any terms, you shall be promoted immediately, take my word for it.” It might have been supposed that the mention of the name of Penelope would have been the means of bringing the colonel to suspect that there was some error in his apprehension; but the truth is, that he paid no very particular attention to the name, and not having the slightest suspicion of the possibility of an error, he never thought of investigating the matter. The right honorable lover, and his kind friend Crop, had not made a late dinner, and it occurred to Lord Spoonbill that, as it would be a pity to have travelled so many miles without even seeing the young lady, he would pay a visit to the rectory in the evening. His lordship very naturally thought that if it were true, as the colonel brought word from his visit at Neverden, that Mr Darnley had actually and notoriously declined the acquaintance with Penelope, the young lady would by this time have ascertained that fact, and might not be quite so difficult as heretofore. Still, however, his lordship could not quite make up his mind whether to urge his suit merely as at first, or whether he would deliberately offer her his hand and fortune. As his mind was not able to arrive at a complete decision on that point, he resolved to be governed by circumstances. That was a wise resolution, and most of the species are governed by circumstances, plebeians as well as patricians. We hardly know how it can be avoided.