ting in the house as the ordinary guests and friends of
the family. How would you like to be received at Courcy
Castle in the same way?

You will say, perhaps, that you would still be papa's
niece; so you would. But you know how strict in such
matters papa is, and you must remember, that the wife
always follows the rank of the husband. Papa is accustomed
to the strict etiquette of a court, and I am sure that no
consideration would induce him to receive the estate-agent
in the light of a nephew. Indeed, were you to marry Mr
Gazebee, the house to which he belongs would, I imagine,
have to give up the management of this property.

Even were Mr Gazebee in Parliament--and I do not see how
it is probable that he should get there--it would not make
any difference. You must remember, dearest, that I never
was an advocate for the Moffat match. I acquiesced in it,
because mamma did so. If I could have had my own way,
I would adhere to all our old prescriptive principles.
Neither money nor position can atone to me for low birth.
But the world, alas! is retrograding; and, according to
the new-fangled doctrines of the day, a lady of blood is
not disgraced by allying herself to a man of wealth, and
what may be called quasi-aristocratic position. I wish it
were otherwise; but so it is. And, therefore, the match
with Mr Moffat was not disgraceful, though it could not be
regarded as altogether satisfactory.

But with Mr Gazebee the matter would be altogether
different. He is a man earning his bread; honestly, I
dare say, but in a humble position. You say he is very
respectable: I do not doubt it; and so is Mr Scraggs,
the butcher at Courcy. You see, Augusta, to what such
arguments reduce you.

I dare say he may be nicer than Mr Moffat, in one way.
That is, he may have more small-talk at his command, and
be more clever in all those little pursuits and amusements
which are valued by ordinary young ladies. But my
opinion is, that neither I nor you would be justified in
sacrificing ourselves for such amusements. We have high
duties before us. It may be that the performance of those
duties will prohibit us from taking a part in the ordinary
arena of the feminine world. It is natural that girls
should wish to marry; and, therefore, those who are weak,
take the first that come. Those who have more judgement,