rrying Frank Gresham?"

"Ah! the matter was so different there. He had much more to give than
I had, when all was counted. And I had no money when we--when we were
first engaged." And the tears came into her eyes as she thought of
the circumstances of her early love;--all of which have been narrated
in the county chronicles of Barsetshire, and may now be read by men
and women interested therein.

"Yes; yours was a love match. I declare, Mary, I often think that you
are the happiest woman of whom I ever heard; to have it all to give,
when you were so sure that you were loved while you yet had nothing."

"Yes; I was sure," and she wiped the sweet tears from her eyes, as
she remembered a certain day when a certain youth had come to her,
claiming all kinds of privileges in a very determined manner. She had
been no heiress then. "Yes; I was sure. But now with you, dear, you
can't make yourself poor again. If you can trust no one--"

"I can. I can trust him. As regards that I do trust him altogether.
But how can I tell that he would care for me?"

"Do you not know that he likes you?"

"Ah, yes; and so he does Lady Scatcherd."

"Miss Dunstable!"

"And why not Lady Scatcherd, as well as me? We are of the same
kind--come from the same class."

"Not quite that, I think."

"Yes, from the same class; only I have managed to poke myself up
among dukes and duchesses, whereas she has been content to remain
where God placed her. Where I beat her in art, she beats me in
nature."

"You know you are talking nonsense."

"I think that we are both doing that--absolute nonsense; such as
schoolgirls of eighteen talk to each other. But there is a relief in
it; is there not? It would be a terrible curse to have to talk sense
always. Well, that's done; and now let us go out." Mrs. Gresham was
sure after this that Miss Dunstable would be a consenting party to
the little arrangement which she contemplated. But of that she had
felt but little doubt for some considerable time past. The difficulty
lay on the other side, and all that she had as yet done was to
convince herself that she would be safe in assuring her uncle of
success if he could be induced to take the enterprise in hand. He was
to come to Boxall Hill that evening, and to remain there for a day or
two. If anything could be done in the matter, now would be the time
for doing it. So at least thought Mrs. Gresham.

The doctor did come, and did remain for the allotted time at