Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/353

 appears to be the case, I will allow the experiment to run to its natural conclusion,—the more so since thus you will retain a perfect recollection of every incident in your novel experience.

"Now to business. What brought me here was not, as you, no doubt, hoped, to announce your definite acceptance as a member of the Weissnichtwohin expedition. It was rather for the purpose of affording you what I expect will prove an irresistible reason for staying at home. I came, in fact, to set in action a counter-attraction that will, I have little doubt, far outweigh all the fascinations of even troglodytic archæology.

"You are perhaps not aware—indeed, I am pretty certain that you are not—that I, too, have the privilege of being numbered among the acquaintance of Miss Edith Alston. Yes, even that same Miss Alston in regard to whom I have heard so much within these few days past. Why I now, for the first time, inform you of the fact, was originally a matter of pure accident,—you happened to mention the name first: then intervened other reasons you will presently be in a position to appreciate.

"In the last letter I addressed to you in Rome, I alluded, half in jest, to a possible change in my condition in the near future. My uncle, as you know, has been to me like a father. There exists between us a genuine liking, in spite of considerable divergence in our views of life. On my return from what he was pleased to call my last wild-goose chase, he earnestly remonstrated with me on what he termed my waste of life's opportunities. If I would only settle down, he would provide handsomely the means of doing so. He had, in fact, already looked out a wife for me.

A splendid girl!' said he, with an enthusiasm in him quite unusual. 'Had I met with such a one in my time, Ute, I should now have, probably, other foolish young people to worry about besides a scientific nephew.'

"The dear old boy had actually been so attentive to the 'splendid girl' at Newport and Saratoga, as to give rise to a foolish rumor, that seems to have reached your ears almost as soon as you lauded. Well, to please my uncle, I sought the acquaintance of Miss Alston, but presently found myself only too anxious to improve that acquaintance in order to please myself.