; "but I know not whether this earthly love may not
have weakened my affection towards Heaven. If so, may God pardon me,
for I cannot help it." After this avowal, for a few minutes, which
appeared seconds, we were in each other's arms, when Susannah disengaged
herself.

"Dearest Japhet, thy father will be much displeased." "I cannot help
it," replied I, "I shall submit to his displeasure."

"Nay, but, Japhet, why risk thy father's wrath?"

"Well, then," replied I, attempting to reach her lips, "I will go."

"Nay, nay--indeed, Japhet, you exact too much--it is not seemly."

"Then I won't go."

"Recollect about thy father."

"It is you who detain me, Susannah."

"I must not injure thee with thy father, Japhet, it were no proof of my
affection--but, indeed, you are self-willed."

"God bless you, Susannah," said I, as I gained the contested point, and
hastened to the carriage.

My father was a little out of humour when I returned, and questioned me
rather sharply as to where I had been. I half pacified him by delivering
Lord Windermear's polite message; but he continued his interrogations,
and although I had pointed out to him that a De Benyon would never be
guilty of an untruth, I am afraid I told some half dozen on this
occasion; but I consoled myself with the reflection, that, in the code
of honour of a fashionable man, he is bound, if necessary, to tell
falsehoods where a lady is concerned; so I said I had driven through
the streets looking at the houses, and had twice stopped and had gone
in to examine them. My father supposed that I had been looking out for
a house for him, and was satisfied. Fortunately they were job horses;
had they been his own I should have been in a severe scrape. Horses are
the only part of an establishment for which the gentlemen have any
consideration, and on which ladies have no mercy.

I had promised the next day to dine with Mr Masterton. My father had
taken a great aversion to this old gentleman until I had narrated the
events of my life, in which he had played such a conspicuous and friendly
part. Then, to do my father justice, his heart warmed towards him.

"My dear sir, I have promised to dine out to-day."

"With whom, Japhet?"

"Why, sir, to tell you the truth, with that 'old thief of a lawyer.'"

"I am very much shocked at your using such an expression towards one who
has been such a sincere friend, Japhet; and you will oblige me, sir, by
not doing so again in my pre