“Yes, dear Zuleime, you will soon return to Richmond, though it will be not as a school-girl—but as a happy bride—as Mrs. Major Cabell! What a sonorous name and title for my little, romping Zuleime! Here, Charley Cabell! I have broken the ice, now come and speak for yourself!” exclaimed Mr. Clifton to Major Cabell, who was going by the door. Major Cabell came in, passing the old gentleman, who had seized his hat, and not trusting himself to look at his daughter, rushed out of the room. Zuleime remained standing where he had placed her, when he put her off his knee—panic struck—stupid—until Major Cabell took her hand, and attempted to lead her to a seat, then snatching her hand away with a shudder, she asked almost wildly— “Cousin Charles, when does father want this marriage to come off?” “As soon as my dearest Zuleime will consent to make me the happiest of men!” replied the common-place wooer, attempting to re-capture her hand, but she retreated shuddering, and asking, in a frantic tone and manner, in great contrast to her calm words— “Cousin Charles, do me a favor! Do not press this matter for a week or so.” “Heaven forbid that I should hurry a lady, though that lady be my own little cousin and betrothed—only fix the day and I will rest content—so that it is not a far distant day,” he said, re-capturing her hand, throwing his arm around her waist, and drawing her towards him. “Please, don’t! Let me go, cousin Charles!” exclaimed the girl, in great distress, struggling to free herself. “‘Please, don’t let me go, cousin Charles!’ I don’t intend to, pretty cousin, until you tell me when you will give yourself to me!” replied Major Cabell, kissing her all the more heartily because she strove to escape. “You know what I meant! Let me alone! It is unmanly to behave so! Don’t make me hate you!” was on her quivering lips and in her flashing eyes, as by a sudden effort she threw his arms off and sat down; but then she recollected her father, and the cruel power Major Cabell seemed to possess over him, and she choked down the indignant words, and said instead— “Please, don’t hurry and worry me, cousin Charles!—this is so very sudden! I am sure I never dreamed you would ask for poor me for years to come yet. I am so young.” “‘So young!’ Ah, Zuleime, that is a piece of pretty little womanish hypocrisy—a little finesse that belongs to your character, and is inherited from your French mother! ‘So young!’ Now, my pretty childish cousin, you know you have received an offer of marriage this very week! And that, indeed, has accelerated my proposal. Fair Zuleime, a man does not care to see his young betrothed bride courted by another!” “_I know that!_” replied Zuleime, in a peculiarly sad voice, moving to the other end of the room.