The mother now came out, and the following conversation took place: “What is Minna doing?” “She is weeping.” “Silly child! what good can that do?” “None, certainly; but it is so soon to bestow her hand on another. O husband, you are too harsh to your poor child.” “No, wife; you view things in a wrong light. When she finds herself the wife of a wealthy and honourable man, her tears will soon cease; she will waken out of a dream, as it were, happy and grateful to Heaven and to her parents, as you will see.” “Heaven grant it may be so!” replied the wife. “She has, indeed, now considerable property; but after the noise occasioned by her unlucky affair with that adventurer, do you imagine that she is likely soon to meet with so advantageous a match as Mr. Rascal? Do you know the extent of Mr. Rascal’s influence and wealth? Why, he has purchased with ready money, in this country, six millions of landed property, free from all encumbrances. I have had all the documents in my hands. It was he who outbid me everywhere when I was about to make a desirable purchase; and, besides, he has bills on Mr. Thomas John’s house to the amount of three millions and a half.” “He must have been a prodigious thief!” “How foolishly you talk! he wisely saved where others squandered their property.” “A mere livery-servant!” “Nonsense! he has at all events an unexceptionable shadow.” “True, but . . . ” While this conversation was passing, the grey-coated man looked at me with a satirical smile. The door opened, and Minna entered, leaning on the arm of her female attendant, silent tears flowing down her fair but pallid face. She seated herself in the chair which had been placed for her under the lime-trees, and her father took a stool by her side. He gently raised her hand; and as her tears flowed afresh, he addressed her in the most affectionate manner:—