n years old, and her fortune has accumulated ever
since? it is by no means despicable, I understand, from Mr Cophagus; and
moreover, Mr Cophagus intends to leave her all his property."

"I am very glad to hear it, Japhet, and will not fail to communicate all
this to your father; but there is no reason why I may not do as I please
with my own money--and I love that girl dearly. By-the-bye, have you ever
said anything to her?"

"O yes, sir, we are pledged to each other."

"That's all right; I thought so, when I saw your fingers hooked together
in the carriage. But now, Japhet, I should recommend a little
indifference--not exactly opposition, when your father proposes the
subject to you. It will make him more anxious, and when you consent more
obliged to you. I have promised to call upon him to-morrow, on that and
other business, and you had better be out of the way."

"I shall be out of the way, sir; I mean to go with Harcourt to Lady de
Clare's. I shall ask for the carriage."

"He will certainly lend it to you, as he wishes to get rid of you; but
here we are. God bless you, my boy."

Chapter LXXVIII

The Bengal tiger taken in the toils, which promise a speedy end
to mine--I kindly permit my father to insist upon the marriage
that I have set my heart upon.

I found my father, who had now completely recovered from his accident,
walking up and down the room in a brown study. He did not speak to me
until after dinner, when he commenced with asking some questions relative
to Cecilia de Clare. I replied, "that I intended, if he did not want the
carriage, to call there to-morrow with Mr Harcourt."

"Is she very handsome?" inquired he.

"Very much so, sir. I do not think I ever saw a handsomer young person.
Yes, I do recollect one."

"Who was that?"

"A young lady with whom I was slightly acquainted, when living in the
country."

"I have been thinking, my dear boy, that with the competence which you
will have, it is right that you should marry early; in so doing you will
oblige your father, who is anxious to see his grandchildren before he
dies. My health is not very good."

I could not help smiling at this pathetic touch of the old governor's,
who, if one could judge from appearances, was as strong as a lion, and
likely to last almost as long as his dutiful son. Moreover, his appetite
was enormous, and he invariably finished his bottle every day. I did not
therefore feel any serious alar