more use than a postage-stamp without gum, and she would never forejive me if I should presume to go to Liverpool to meet her." " Will you at least let me know when your cousin arrives 1 " Lord Warburton asked. " Only on the condition I have mentioned that you don't fall in love with her ! " Mr. Touchett declared. "That strikes me as hard. Don't you think me good enough ? " "I -think you too good because I shouldn't like her to marry you. She hasn't come here to look for a husband, I hope ; so many young ladies are doing that, as if there were no good ones at home. Then she is probably engaged ; American girls are usually engaged, I believe. Moreover, I am not sure, after all, that you would be a good husband." " Very likely she is engaged ; I have known a good many American girls, and they always were ; but I could never see that it made any difference, upon my word ! As for my being a good husband, I am not sure of that either ; one can but try!" " Try as much as you please, but don't try on my niece," said the old man, whose opposition to the idea was broadly humorous. " Ah, well," said Lord Warburton, with a humour broader still, " perhaps, after all, she is not worth trying on ! "
| II. |
WHILE this exchange of pleasantries took place between the two, Ralph Touchett wandered away a little, with his usual slouching gait, his hands in his pockets, and his little rowdyish terrier at his heels. His face was turned towards the house, but his eyes were bent, musingly, upon the lawn ; so that he had been an object of observation to a person who had just made her appearance in the doorway of the dwelling for some moments before he perceived her. His attention was called to her by the conduct of his dog, who had suddenly darted forward, with a little volley of shrill barks, in which the note of welcome, however, was more sensible than that of defiance. The person in question was a young lady, who seemed immedi- ately to interpret the greeting of the little terrier. He advanced with great rapidity, and stood at her feet, looking up and barking
