“You ain’t very hearty about it, Ronald. I expected you to jump at the suggestion. Indeed, I thought you were a little gone on her yourself, and would have welcomed her warmly for your aunt. You’re across at her house pretty well every day.” “Yes, sir, I am; and I do like her very much. Indeed, I wouldn’t have minded marrying her myself.” “Good Lord! if that doesn’t beat everything! A mere boy like you, without a penny in the world except what you get from me—and I’m not dead yet by a long way, Ronald—_you_ to be in love with the richest woman in the county! God bless me! What are the boys coming to? But there—it’s nonsense. Put it out of your head, my lad, and sit down and write what I tell you.” The letter, when it was forwarded, ran thus: “DEAR MRS. THORPE, “I write on a subject that touches very nearly the happiness of my future life (‘it touches mine, R.’) You must have seen, I imagine, how much I have admired and loved you (‘my sentiments exactly R.’); nor can you be blind to the fact that no other woman occupies the place in my esteem which has been wholly given to you (‘couldn’t have expressed myself better, R.’) I now offer you my hand and heart (‘savours of the complete letter writer, but true notwithstanding, R.’), together with all my worldly possessions (‘£50, all included, R.’) You know, I fancy, my ways and habits as no other woman can know them (‘too well by half, R.’) My temper is equable, and I am, I think, companionable (‘query? R.’) My nephew Ronald will continue to live with us; you know him well (‘I should just think so, R.’) He is a really good-hearted, well-meaning lad (‘thanks, old man, R.’), but a little uppish at times, and thinks he knows everything, like all the boys of the present day (‘I retract my thanks, R.’) But I fancy that you and he will get on together (‘admirably, R.’) “I shall await your answer with impatience, and anxiously hope it may be favourable (‘to me, R.’) “I remain, “Your sincere admirer, “A. HEYWARD.” (‘Your loving friend, R.’) The answer came next day, and was a crushing blow to my uncle’s hopes. She thanked him gratefully for the offer, and regretted the disappointment her answer would cause him. But her affections, she said, had long been bestowed on his nephew, and she had lately had _reason to believe_ (italics at Ronald’s request) that the feeling was reciprocated. She was in a position, she added, to disregard monetary considerations in the choice of a husband. * * * *