conjugal hearth to develop all its native good qualities; nor is it
to be blamed over-much if, innocently aware of this tendency in its
nature, it turns towards what is best fitted for its growth and
improvement, by laws akin to those which make the sun-flower turn to the
sun or the willow to the stream. Ladies of this disposition, permanently
thwarted in their affectionate bias, gradually languish away into
intellectual inanition, or sprout out into those abnormal eccentricities
which are classed under the general name of "oddity" or "character."
But, once admitted to their proper soil, it is astonishing what
healthful improvement takes place--how the poor heart, before starved
and stinted of nourishment, throws out its suckers, and bursts into
bloom and fruit. And thus many a belle from whom the beaux have stood
aloof, only because the puppies think she could be had for the asking,
they see afterwards settled down into true wife and fond mother, with
amaze at their former disparagement, and a sigh at their blind hardness
of heart.

In all probability, Mrs. Dale took this view of the subject; and
certainly, in addition to all the hitherto dormant virtues which would
be awakened in Miss Jemima when fairly Mrs. Riccabocca, she counted
somewhat upon the mere worldly advantage which such a match would bestow
upon the exile. So respectable a connection with one of the oldest,
wealthiest and most popular families in the shire, would in itself give
him a position not to be despised by a poor stranger in the land; and
though the interest of Miss Jemima's dowry might not be much, regarded
in the light of English pounds, (not Milanese _lire_,) still it would
suffice to prevent that gradual process of dematerialization which the
lengthened diet upon minnows and sticklebacks had already made apparent
in the fine and slow-evanishing form of the philosopher.

Like all persons convinced of the expediency of a thing, Mrs. Dale saw
nothing wanting but opportunities to insure success. And that these
might be forthcoming, she not only renewed with greater frequency, and
more urgent instance than ever, her friendly invitations to Riccabocca
to drink tea and spend the evening, but she artfully so chafed the
Squire on his sore point of hospitality, that the doctor received weekly
a pressing solicitation to dine and sleep at the Hall.

At first the Italian pished and grunted, and said _Cospetto_, and _Per
Bacco_, and _Diavola_, and tried t