to answer for the extent of his patron's
house and good-nature.

"Quite out of the question," said Mr Whittlestaff, in a tone of
voice intended to put an end to that matter. "But I can manage to
live alone for a few days, seeing that I shall be compelled to do so
before long, by Miss Lawrie's marriage." Again Mary looked up into
his face. "It is so, my dear. This young gentleman has managed to
ferret out the truth, while looking for his wedding garments. Will
you tell your papa, Miss Evelina, that Mary will be delighted to
accept his kindness?"

"And Gordon can come down to me," said Blake, uproariously, rubbing
his hands; "and we can have three or four final days together, like
two jolly young bachelors."

"Speaking for yourself alone," said Kattie,--"you'll have to remain a
jolly young bachelor a considerable time still, if you don't mend
your manners."

"I needn't mend my manners till after I'm married, I suppose." But
they who knew Mr Blake well were wont to declare that in the matter
of what Miss Forrester called his manners, there would not be much to
make his wife afraid.

The affair was settled as far as it could be settled in Mr Gordon's
absence. Miss Lawrie was to go over and spend a fortnight at Little
Alresford just previous to Kattie Forrester's marriage, and Gordon
was to come down to the marriage, so as to be near to Mary, if he
could be persuaded to do so. Of this Mr Blake spoke with great
certainty. "Why shouldn't he come and spoon a bit, seeing that he
never did so yet in his life? Now I have had a lot of it."

"Not such a lot by any means," said Miss Forrester.

"According to all accounts he's got to begin it. He told me that he
hadn't even proposed regular. Doesn't that seem odd to you, Kattie?"

"It seemed very odd when you did it." Then the three of them went
away, and Mary was left to discuss the prospects of her future life
with Mr Whittlestaff. "You had better both of you come and live
here," he said. "There would be room enough." Mary thought probably
of the chance there might be of newcomers, but she said nothing. "I
should go away, of course," said Mr Whittlestaff.

"Turn you out of your own house!"

"Why not? I shan't stay here any way. I am tired of the place, and
though I shan't care to sell it, I shall make a move. A man ought to
make a move every now and again. I should like to go to Italy, and
live at one of those charming little towns."

"Without a soul to speak to."