before I take such a
leap."

"I do believe he has as true a regard for you as any man of his age
ever does have--"

"For any woman of mine. That is not putting it in a very devoted
way certainly; but I am glad to see that you remember the bishop's
maxim."

"What would you have me say? If I told you that he was dying for
love, you would say, I was trying to cheat you; and now because I
don't tell you so, you say that he is wanting in devotion. I must say
you are hard to please."

"Perhaps I am, and very unreasonable into the bargain. I ought to ask
no questions of the kind when your brother proposes to do me so much
honour. As for my expecting the love of a man who condescends to wish
to be my husband, that, of course, would be monstrous. What right can
I have to think that any man should love me? It ought to be enough
for me to know that as I am rich, I can get a husband. What business
can such as I have to inquire whether the gentleman who would so
honour me really would like my company, or would only deign to put up
with my presence in his household?"

"Now, my dear Miss Dunstable--"

"Of course I am not such an ass as to expect that any gentleman
should love me; and I feel that I ought to be obliged to your brother
for sparing me the string of complimentary declarations which are
usual on such occasions. He, at any rate, is not tedious--or rather
you on his behalf; for no doubt his own time is so occupied with his
parliamentary duties that he cannot attend to this little matter
himself. I do feel grateful to him; and perhaps nothing more will be
necessary than to give him a schedule of the property, and name an
early day for putting him in possession." Mrs. Smith did feel that
she was rather badly used. This Miss Dunstable, in their mutual
confidences, had so often ridiculed the love-making grimaces of
her mercenary suitors--had spoken so fiercely against those who
had persecuted her, not because they had desired her money, but on
account of their ill-judgement in thinking her to be a fool--that
Mrs. Smith had a right to expect that the method she had adopted for
opening the negotiation would be taken in a better spirit. Could it
be possible, after all, thought Mrs. Smith to herself, that Miss
Dunstable was like other women, and that she did like to have men
kneeling at her feet? Could it be the case that she had advised her
brother badly, and that it would have been better for him to have
gone about his w