spurned. Now, on the contrary, it seemed as if he had been engaged by Providence to the match; that it was in the true order of every just and equitable notion of right that he should become the husband of Miss Airey; possessing her affections, it was but due to her, as the only return he had it in his power to make was that of becoming her future protector: and, with regard to her being of inferior rank to himself, it was the husband who ennobled the wife, and not the wife her husband; he did not sink himself to her level, but he raised her to his.
Colonel Melbourne was not the only one whose advice might have had some influence in dissuading Douglas from the engagement he had formed with Miss Airey. He had acquired a greater intimacy with the Governor-General than with any of the officers; and having received a special invitation to wait upon his Lordship, Douglas accordingly repaired to his residence. "I have been desirous, my dear Major," said the Earl, in his usual mild and courteous manner, "to seize a short interval from business, to converse with you upon a topic wholly personal to yourself; one in which I am not in the least concerned, otherwise than that I feel myself deeply interested in your welfare. Perhaps it might not be unnecessary to make some little pre-
