"A very pretty estate, uncle, if it were not the estate of matrimony. I am sorry, very sorry, to disappoint you; but I must decline taking a lease of it for life." '"Then, sir, allow me to hint to you that in my testament you are only a tenant-at-will. I consider it a duty that I owe to the family that the estate should be re-united. That can only be done by one of our family marrying Miss Percival; and as you will not, I shall now write to your cousin James, and if he accept my proposal, shall make _him_ my heir. Probably he will more fully appreciate the advantages of five thousand acres in a ring-fence." 'And Mr. Ponsonby directed his steps towards the door. '"Stop, my dear uncle," cried William, rising up from his easy-chair; "we do not quite understand one another. It is very true that I would prefer half the property and remaining single, to the two estates and the estate of marriage; but at the same time I did not tell you that I would prefer beggary to a wife and five thousand acres in a ring-fence. I know you to be a man of your word. I accept your proposal, and you need not put my cousin James to the expense of postage." '"Very good, William; I require no more: and as I know you to be a man of your word, I shall consider this match as settled. It was on this account only that I sent for you, and now you may go back again as soon as you please. I will let you know when all is ready." "I must be at Tattersall's on Monday, uncle; there is a horse I must have for next season. Pray, uncle, may I ask when you are likely to want me?" '"Let me see--this is May--about July, I should think." "July, uncle! Spare me--I cannot marry in the dog-days. No, hang it! not July." '"Well, William, perhaps, as you must come down once or twice to see the property--Miss Percival, I should say--it may be too soon--suppose we put it off till October?" '"October--I shall be down at Melton." '"Pray, sir, may I then inquire what portion of the year is not, with you, _dog_-days?" '"Why, uncle, next April, now--I think that would do." '"Next April! Eleven months, and a winter between. Suppose Miss Percival was to take a cold and die." '"I should be excessively obliged to her," thought William. '"No, no!" continued Mr. Ponsonby: "there is nothing certain in this world, William." '"Well then, uncle, suppose we arrange it for the first _hard frost_." '"We have had no hard frosts lately, William. We may wait for years. The sooner it is over the better. Go back to town, buy your horse, and then come down here, my dear William, to oblige your uncle--never mind the dog-days." '"Well, sir, if I am to make a sacrifice, it shall not be done by halves; out of respect for you I will even marry in July, without any regard to the thermometer." '"You are a good boy, William. Do you want a cheque?" '"I have had one to-day," thought William, and was almost at fault. "I shall be most thankful, sir--they sell horseflesh by the ounce nowadays."