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my own house is not surely very wonderful, though it may be unexpected. However, I will not mortify my vanity so far as to suppose it both unexpected and unwelcome.

How ridiculously grave you look! How should one know how far your house is from this town?

I'll answer you that question, if you will tell me in return, how long this place is to have the honour of harbouring so charming a visiter.

How all the world seem leagued to embarrass one with direct queries! My plans are not yet settled, and I don't know how long I may stay. The lease of a house requires some consideration.

And you will not stint it on that point, I know. But the lease of a house puts deeds, and bonds, and contracts of another kind into one's thoughts: I hope you will not dash any presumptuous hope which a poor bachelor like myself may have entertained, by owning a matrimonial plan in connection with the other.

A matrimonial plan! What has a single