"It is no laughing matter to me, Mrs Clyde," I replied at last, emboldened by her ridicule--"I love Min; and she has promised to marry me, if you will only give your consent, which I have come to ask to- day." I got up as I spoke, and faced her. I was prepared to do battle till the death. Desperation had now made me brave. "Now, _do_ let us be serious," said the lady, presently. She apparently found it difficult to stifle her laughter at the humour of the whole thing:--it was really such a very good joke! "I _am_ serious, Mrs Clyde," I said, half-petulantly, although I tried to be impressive. I was solemn enough over it all; but, my temper has always been, unfortunately for me, too easily provoked. "I never heard of such a thing in my life," she continued, taking no notice, apparently, either of me or of my answer. "Fancy, any sane person talking of love and marriage between a boy and girl like that! You must be joking, Mr Lorton. Really, it is too absurd to be credible!" and she affected a laugh again, in her provoking way. A capital joke, wasn't it? "I am not joking, I assure you, Mrs Clyde," I answered sturdily, endeavouring, vainly, to bear down her raillery by my gravity. "I was never more serious in my life. I'm not a boy, Mrs Clyde; and I'm sure Min is old enough to know her own mind, too!" This was an impertinent addendum on my part; and, my opponent quickly retorted, with a thrust, which recalled my good manners. "You are very good to say so, Mr Lorton; but permit _me_ to judge best in that matter! Pray, how old are you, Mr Lorton, if I may be allowed to ask the question?"--she said, looking at me with great "society" interest, as if she were examining a specimen of the extinct dodo. "Three-and-twenty," I said sententiously, like a catechumen responding to the questions supposed to be addressed to "N or M." "Dear me!" she ejaculated in seeming surprise. "Three--and--twenty? I really would not have thought it! I wouldn't have taken you to be more than eighteen at the outside!" She hit me on my tenderest point. I looked young for my age; and, like most young fellows, before time teaches them wisdom, making them strive to disguise the effect of each additional lustrum, I felt sore always when supposed to be more youthful than I actually was. I was, consequently, nettled at her remarks. She saw this, and smiled in amusement. "I _am_ twenty-three, however, Mrs Clyde, I assure you," I said warmly; "old enough to get married, I suppose!" "That entirely depends on circumstances," she said coldly, as if the matter was of no interest to her whatever; "years are no criterion for judgment"--and she then stopped, throwing the burden of the next move on my shoulders. I did not hesitate any longer, however. "Will you allow Min to become engaged to me?" I said, valiantly, plunging at once into the thick of the combat.