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Rh thanks for all your kindness to him. You write me word that he is much improved—most likeable; you add that at Paris he became the rage—that in London you are sure he will be extremely popular. Be it so, if for his own sake. Are you quite sure that it is not for the expectations which I come here to dissipate?"

. "Much for himself, I am certain; a little, perhaps, because, whatever he thinks and I say to the contrary —people seeing no other heir to your property—"

"I understand," interrupted Darrell, quickly. " But he does not nurse those expectations? he will not be disappointed?"

. "Verily I believe that, apart from his love for you, and a delicacy of sentiment that would recoil from planting hopes of wealth in the graves of benefactors, Lionel Haughton would prefer carving his own fortunes to all the ingots hewed out of California by another's hand, and bequeathed by another's will."

"I am heartily glad to hear and to trust you."

"I gather from what you say that you are here with the intention to—to—"

"Marry again," said Darrell, firmly. "Right. I am."

"I always felt sure you would marry again. Is the lady here, too t"

"What lady?"

"The lad^ you have chosen?"

"Tush—I have chosen none. I come here to choose; and in this I ask advice from your experience. I would marry again! I—at my age! Ridiculous! But so it is. You know all the mothers and marriageable daughters that London—arida niitrix—rears for nuptial altars—where, among them, shall I, Guy Darrell, the man whom you think so enviable, find the safe helpmate whose love he may reward with munificent jointure, to whose child he may bequeath the name that has now no successor, and the wealth he has no heart to spend?"

Colonel Morley—who, as we know, is by habit a match-maker, and likes the vocation—assumes a placid but cogitative mien, rubs his brow gently, and says, in his softest, best-bred accents, '* You would not marry a mere girl? some one of suitable age? I know several most superior young women on the other side of thirty—Wilhelmina Prymme, for instance, or Janet—"

. "Old maids. No—decidedly no!"

(suspiciously). "But you would not risk the peace of your old age with a girl of eighteen, or else I do know