s there was no other person to compare him with,
had allowed herself to think a good deal of him. Mr. Hogarth had always
shown so marked a preference for Jane, and had so often expressed
displeasure and impatience at Elsie's deficiencies; his property, not
being entailed, was entirely at his own disposal, so that it was
probable that Jane would be left the larger share of it, while if he
made love to Alice it was quite possible that she would be disinherited
altogether, for he knew that he was not a favourite with the old
gentleman. He did not think that anything could shake Mr. Hogarth's
confidence in Jane, and he had been very careful in feeling his ground
sure before he made a formal proposal. He had tried to persuade himself
that Jane's face was charming, though not regularly handsome; so it was
to some people, but he had not eyes to see the charm. Her figure was
undeniably fine, her temper good, her principles to be depended on. Her
education had been peculiar, and singularly secular--his mother had
felt a little shocked at her want of religion--but then Mr. Hogarth was
very odd, and when she was married she would see things differently;
and on the whole Mrs. Dalzell felt that her handsome son had chosen
with great prudence and good sense in fixing his affections upon the
elder and the favorite niece. His small property was heavily
encumbered, and such a marriage would make him hold up his head again
in the country. Mrs. Dalzell's attentions to Jane had been nearly as
assiduous as her son's, and to the motherless girl they were quite as
welcome; and she had shown so much affection for Alice, too, that both
sisters had been very much captivated with her.

William Dalzell felt Jane's kindly-meant speech as a sort of reproach.
He would have preferred to make a speech himself, and to have seen her
more agitated. Though he had never thought himself very much in love,
he believed he had inspired a strong love, and that it would be very
hard for Jane to give him up. But things were completely taken out of
his hands; she did not even now, in the first pain of parting, dream of
breaking her heart. She was his superior, painfully his superior, and
he did not like it.

"You are quite right, Miss Melville," said he; "what you say is quite
true. I am involved and embarrassed, and could not offer you anything
worth having."

"And I will make my own way in the world," said Jane; "and, William
Dalzell, do not be hurt if I give