l. Holding
his prayer-book upside down, or open at any place but the right, he did
nothing but stare about him, unless he happened to catch my aunt's eye or
mine, and then he would drop his own on his book, with a puritanical air
of mock solemnity that would have been ludicrous, if it had not been too
provoking. Once, during the sermon, after attentively regarding Mr.
Leighton for a few minutes, he suddenly produced his gold pencil-case and
snatched up a Bible. Perceiving that I observed the movement, he
whispered that he was going to make a note of the sermon; but instead of
that, as I sat next him, I could not help seeing that he was making a
caricature of the preacher, giving to the respectable, pious, elderly
gentleman, the air and aspect of a most absurd old hypocrite. And yet,
upon his return, he talked to my aunt about the sermon with a degree of
modest, serious discrimination that tempted me to believe he had really
attended to and profited by the discourse.

Just before dinner my uncle called me into the library for the discussion
of a very important matter, which was dismissed in few words.

'Now, Nell,' said he, 'this young Huntingdon has been asking for you:
what must I say about it? Your aunt would answer "no"--but what say
you?'

'I say yes, uncle,' replied I, without a moment's hesitation; for I had
thoroughly made up my mind on the subject.

'Very good!' cried he. 'Now that's a good honest answer--wonderful for a
girl!--Well, I'll write to your father to-morrow. He's sure to give his
consent; so you may look on the matter as settled. You'd have done a
deal better if you'd taken Wilmot, I can tell you; but that you won't
believe. At your time of life, it's love that rules the roast: at mine,
it's solid, serviceable gold. I suppose now, you'd never dream of
looking into the state of your husband's finances, or troubling your head
about settlements, or anything of that sort?'

'I don't think I should.'

'Well, be thankful, then, that you've wiser heads to think for you. I
haven't had time, yet, to examine thoroughly into this young rascal's
affairs, but I see that a great part of his father's fine property has
been squandered away;--but still, I think, there's a pretty fair share of
it left, and a little careful nursing may make a handsome thing of it
yet; and then we must persuade your father to give you a decent fortune,
as he has only one besides yourself to care for;--and, if you behave