with a quick step, with a tear in her eye, and
with grave thoughts in her heart. It would have been very nice. She
could have loved him, and she felt the attraction, and the softness,
and the sweet-smelling delicateness of gentle associations. It would
have been very nice. But she could not sever herself from her father.
She could understand that he must be distasteful to such a man as
Ralph Newton. She would not blame Ralph. But the fact that it was so,
shut for her the door of that Elysium. She knew that she could not
be happy were she to be taken to such a mode of life as would force
her to accuse herself of ingratitude to her father. And so Ralph went
back to town without again seeing the breeches-maker.

The first thing he found in his lodgings was a note from his
namesake.

DEAR SIR,--

I am up in town, and am very anxious to see you in respect
of the arrangements which have been proposed respecting
the property. Will you fix a meeting as soon as you are
back?

Yours always,

RALPH NEWTON.

Charing Cross Hotel, 2 Oct., 186--.

Of course he would see his namesake. Why not? And why not take his
uncle's money, and pay off Neefit, and have done with it? Neefit must
be paid off, let the money come from where it would. He called at
the hotel, and not finding his cousin, left a note asking him to
breakfast on the following morning; and then he spent the remainder
of that day in renewed doubt. He was so sick of Neefit,--whose manner
of eating shrimps had been a great offence added to other offences!
And yet one of his great sorrows was that he should lose Polly.
Polly in her way was perfect, and he felt almost sure, now, that
Polly loved him. Girls had no right to cling to their fathers after
marriage. There was Scripture warranty against it. And yet the manner
in which she had spoken of her father had greatly added to his
admiration.

The two Ralphs breakfasted together, not having met each other since
they were children, and having even then scarcely known each other.
Ralph the heir had been brought up a boy at the parsonage of Newton
Peele, but the other Ralph had never been taken to Newton till after
his grandfather's death. The late parson had died within twelve
months of his father,--a wretched year, during which the Squire and
the parson had always squabbled,--and then Ralph who was the heir
had been transferred to the guardianship of Sir Thomas Underwood. It
was only during