an suggest, and taking
your chance, as you have put it, of the appeal your association with
her niece will make to her ladyship's worldly vanity and to her
perceptions as a woman of society."

"All that you are saying," I exclaimed, "I had long ago resolved on,
and you will find this scheme as you have put it almost word for word
in the letter in which I told you of my plans and asked you to marry
us."

"Yes, I believe my recommendations are not original," said he. "There
is something more to suggest, however. If Lady Amelia will send Grace
her consent, why wait for the banns to be published? Why not procure a
licence? It is due to Grace," said he, sinking his voice and sending a
look of admiration at her, "that you should make her your wife as
speedily as possible.

"Yes, yes. I have heard that said before. I have been a good deal
advised on this head. My dear fellow, only consider. Would not I make
her my wife this instant if you will only consent to marry us?"

He laughed and turned from me, and addressed Grace, and presently the
four of us were busily talking. By this time my darling had regained
some degree of confidence; her eyes were bright, her cheeks wore a
little glow, there was nothing of embarrassment in her smile or general
air as she addressed my cousin or met his gaze. In fact, the talk with
Mrs. Howe had done her a deal of good. Her fears had foreboded a sort
of Hannah More like view of things in Frank's wife--an easy capacity of
recoiling and of being frosted from head to foot by such behaviour as
that of an elopement; and she had no doubt that if Mrs. Howe took her
to her home and showed her some kindness, her conduct would be a mere
effusion of parochial sensibility; it would be her duty--her duty as a
clergyman's wife, and she would not do less for a servant-maid that had
run away with a grocer's assistant.

This, I say, had been my sweetheart's apprehension, but a few minutes'
chat had corrected it, and she could now look with happiness and
friendship at the amiable and pretty, if dowdy, woman who was seated at
her side, and attend without any further appearance of constraint than
what one would expect to find in so young and girlish a character to
the kindly, graceful, warm-hearted conversation of my cousin Frank.

The pony and trap had been sent round to some adjacent stables, but by
seven o'clock we had made all necessary arrangements, and the vehicle
was again brought to the do