uncle and you told him it was not in your power to give it.
What right had he to ask any one before me?'

'Helen!'

'What did my uncle say?'

'He said he would not interfere in the matter; if you liked to accept Mr.
Boarham's obliging offer, you--'

'Did he say obliging offer?'

'No; he said if you liked to take him you might; and if not, you might
please yourself.'

'He said right; and what did you say?'

'It is no matter what I said. What will you say?--that is the question.
He is now waiting to ask you himself; but consider well before you go;
and if you intend to refuse him, give me your reasons.'

'I shall refuse him, of course; but you must tell me how, for I want to
be civil and yet decided--and when I've got rid of him, I'll give you my
reasons afterwards.'

'But stay, Helen; sit down a little and compose yourself. Mr. Boarham is
in no particular hurry, for he has little doubt of your acceptance; and I
want to speak with you. Tell me, my dear, what are your objections to
him? Do you deny that he is an upright, honourable man?'

'No.'

'Do you deny that he is sensible, sober, respectable?'

'No; he may be all this, but--'

'But, Helen! How many such men do you expect to meet with in the world?
Upright, honourable, sensible, sober, respectable! Is this such an
every-day character that you should reject the possessor of such noble
qualities without a moment's hesitation? Yes, noble I may call them; for
think of the full meaning of each, and how many inestimable virtues they
include (and I might add many more to the list), and consider that all
this is laid at your feet. It is in your power to secure this
inestimable blessing for life--a worthy and excellent husband, who loves
you tenderly, but not too fondly so as to blind him to your faults, and
will be your guide throughout life's pilgrimage, and your partner in
eternal bliss. Think how--'

'But I hate him, aunt,' said I, interrupting this unusual flow of
eloquence.

'Hate him, Helen! Is this a Christian spirit?--you hate him? and he so
good a man!'

'I don't hate him as a man, but as a husband. As a man, I love him so
much that I wish him a better wife than I--one as good as himself, or
better--if you think that possible--provided she could like him; but I
never could, and therefore--'

'But why not? What objection do you find?'

'Firstly, he is at least forty years old--considerably more, I should
think--and I am but eighte