"You see, my dear Harry, we must all be prepared for trials in this rugged world, but then, according to my experience, we are the better for them in the end. If the lady is obdurate or coy, or if her friends throw obstacles in the way, or if want of means exist, we must try to win her by greater attention, or sometimes by pretended indifference, or we must set to work to overcome the obstacles, or to gain the means which are wanting, and we shall enjoy double satisfaction when we triumph. I sometimes wish that I were young again to take advantage of the experience I possess, but as that is an impossibility, I have great satisfaction in enabling others to benefit by it. You understand me, Harry, _nil desperandum_ is the motto I advise you to adopt." "Thank you, general," said Harry. "You seem to suppose that I am in a position to require your advice." "Of course I do," said the general. "I know something about your love affair. Though my friend Sir Ralph and Lady Castleton may not see with your eyes, and may have other views for you, I can sympathise with you, and as far as my respect to them will allow me, I shall be glad to give you all the assistance in my power." Harry thanked the general for his kind feelings, and supposing that he knew from Sir Ralph and his mother exactly how things stood enlightened him yet further on the subject. "You should not be surprised at their objecting on the score of the lady's want of birth, charming as I doubt not she is," observed the general. "I regret, as she has gone away, that I shall not have the pleasure of being introduced to her, and by pouring her praises into Sir Ralph's ear, perhaps assist in softening his heart. However, as I said before, don't despair, but keep up your spirits, and you will soon be too busy in your professional duties to allow your thoughts time to dwell on the subject." Harry again thanked him, and promised to follow his advice. They reached Morbury. Harry proposed putting up their horses, and begged the general to take a few turns on the esplanade, as he had business which would occupy him some little time. Harry was absent longer than he expected, and the general, after looking at his watch two or three times, began to wonder what he could be about. "Can the fair lady have come to the place," he thought. "Perhaps the young fellow has been making a cat's-paw of me all the time, and has gone to church and got married, ha! ha! ha! that would be a joke; but by-the-bye it's out of canonical hours; he cannot have done that then." He took another turn or two, exchanged a few words with the boatmen on the beach, looked about in the hopes of meeting an acquaintance, and resumed his seat on a bench facing the sea. At last Harry made his appearance.