Pleasant, however, as this new honor was to Markham, it brought with it one inconvenience, inasmuch as it did not by any means promise to diminish, but rather threatened to increase Miss Henderson's tender regards towards him. The young gentleman could not help thinking how happy he should be, if by any means he could but extricate himself honorably and satisfactorily from his unpleasant and perplexing situation as regarded this young lady. It is, we firmly believe, a fact, that many persons owe their marriages to circumstances more than to any deliberate and decided act of their own. Of the multitudes of ill-assorted couples it is often said, "Who would have thought it!" Who, indeed! Nobody. They are even astonished at themselves. And if Markham had not been roused by Mr. Martindale's information from his dreams and slumbers, he would have been gradually and surely led step by step to a marriage with Miss Henderson; and when he had been married about ten years, he would have wondered how he came to be married, and would have forgotten all the particulars of the courtship. It turned out as Markham had expected. Miss Henderson was more loving and affectionate than ever. For as soon as it could possibly transpire that Markham was appointed to the situation above alluded to, the young lady was in possession of the information; and not waiting for the formality of a call from her "dear Markham," she despatched to the young gentleman a letter of congratulation on his honors. Much surprised indeed was he to see upon his table one morning, a neatly-folded note directed "Horatio Markham, Esq. Inner Temple." Surprised was he to see the hand-writing which he knew to be Miss Henderson's. With no very agreeable emotions did he open it, and with no very pleasant feeling did he read it. It was written in a very beautiful and delicate hand, but with all its beauties, it had no charms for him. We hope our readers will be more entertained with it than he was, otherwise we shall waste our time in recording it. Thus it read: