“‘I wish I could do that, but I cannot; I shall all the time be thinking you are ill, or that something has gone wrong with you. I should die if you were to fall ill among strangers!’ “‘I’ll take good care of myself for your sake; I’ll be prudent in all things, and let you know if anything goes wrong; but you must do the same.’ “‘Let us go in; I see Mr. Rockland waiting for you--he is going to talk to you about our engagement, and you must be careful not to offend him.’ “‘Fear nothing on that score; I think we will now come to an understanding entirely satisfactory to all parties concerned.’ “Mr. Rockland met me on the portico with his cold, placid smile, and directed me to follow him into the library. He also asked Lottie to go with us. Pointing to a seat, he requested me to take it; Lottie stood calmly by my chair, while Mr. Rockland took his usual seat on the opposite side of the table. “‘Mr. Demar,’ he began, with his austere tone of voice, ‘I have had an interview with Lottie on the subject about which we were speaking a short while ago.’ “‘So Lottie told me, Mr. Rockland.’ “‘Her views and mine differed somewhat; but we have managed to reconcile them to some extent; and we may therefore reasonably hope to have all things amicably settled.’ “‘I am truly glad to hear it, Mr. Rockland.’ “‘Thank you, Edward; are you willing to promise me that the marriage shall be deferred until the end of two years from this date?’ “‘Indeed, Mr. Rockland, I should like very much to be able to comply with your request, but why not let the marriage be solemnized when I return from Philadelphia in the spring?’ “‘Lottie would be too young to marry then.’ “‘Grant papa’s request, Eddie,’ said Lottie; ‘I am very willing to put it off indefinitely, if you can be with me often.’ “That settled the question; so it was agreed that Lottie should be my wife at the end of two years. “‘Come,’ said Lottie, as she took my arm, and looking up at me, her sweet little mouth puckered up in a comical shape; ‘we’ll go to the study now, as everything has been settled between you and papa; I want to show you some new flowers that I have secured; oh, they are such nice ones! They flourish better in the fall season than they do in the spring.’ “She led me through her flower garden, stopping occasionally to point out the different plants, giving a graphic description of their nature and the manner of their culture; and when we came near the summer-house the old parrot began to chatter: “‘Ah, ha! Lottie! here we come--here we come!’ “‘Can’t he say anything but that, Lottie?’ I inquired. “‘Oh, yes, he can talk a great deal when he takes a notion. Did you know I had a letter from Viola, Eddie?’ “‘No, have you?’ “‘Yes; let me read it to you; she writes such a nice, smooth hand, and her letter is so friendly; but here it is: “‘NEW YORK, AUG. 16.