As soon as the old baronet had completed the flourish with which he led her into his library, Miss Torrington turned to him, and with a voice and manner that betrayed great agitation, she said, "I believe, Sir Gilbert, I may change my present guardian, by applying to the Court of Chancery. If I make myself a ward of the court, it will be necessary, I believe, for me to obtain the Lord Chancellor's consent if I should wish to marry before I am of age?" "Certainly, my dear." "And what is necessary for the obtaining such consent, Sir Gilbert?" "That the person who proposes to marry you should be able to offer settlements in proportion to your own fortune." "And if I should choose a person unable to do so?" "To guard against such imprudence, Miss Torrington, the Chancellor has the power of preventing such a marriage." Rosalind's colour came, and went and came again, before she could utter another word; but at length she said, "Have I not the power of choosing another guardian, Sir Gilbert?" "I believe you have, my dear." "If I have,--then will you let me choose you?" These words burst so eagerly from her, and she clasped her hands, and fixed eyes upon him with a look so supplicating, that no man would have found it an easy task to refuse her. Sir Gilbert probably felt little inclination to do so, though he had, in the course of his life, repeatedly refused to take the office now offered him in so singular a manner. "This request, my dear Miss Rose," said he, smiling, "looks very much as if you thought I should prove such an old fool of a guardian as to let you have your own way in all things. I hardly know whether I ought to thank you for the compliment or not. However, I am very willing to accept the office; for I think, somehow or other, that you will not plague me much.--What is your fortune, my dear?--and is it English or Irish property?" "Entirely English, Sir Gilbert; and produces, I believe, between three and four thousand a year." "A very pretty provision, my dear young lady. Would you wish to proceed in this immediately?" "Immediately,--without a day's delay, if I could help it." Sir Gilbert patted her cheek, and smiled again with a look of very great contentment and satisfaction. "Very well, my dear--I think you are quite right--quite right to get rid of such a guardian as the Reverend Mistress Cartwright with as little delay as possible. I imagine you would not find it very easy to negotiate the business yourself, and I will therefore recommend my lawyer to you. Shall I put the business into his hands forthwith?"