o further reply, but stooping down that she might kiss him,
as was his wont, went his way, leaving her almost miserable in
the thought that she had troubled all these waters to no purpose.
What would Miss Dunstable think of her? But on that afternoon Miss
Dunstable seemed to be as happy and even-tempered as ever.

CHAPTER XXXIX

How to Write a Love Letter

Dr. Thorne, in the few words which he spoke to his niece before he
left Boxall Hill, had called himself an old man; but he was as yet on
the right side of sixty by five good years, and bore about with him
less of the marks of age than most men of fifty-five do bear. One
would have said, in looking at him, that there was no reason why he
should not marry if he found that such a step seemed good to him;
and, looking at the age of the proposed bride, there was nothing
unsuitable in that respect. But nevertheless he felt almost ashamed
of himself, in that he allowed himself even to think of the
proposition which his niece had made. He mounted his horse that day
at Boxall Hill--for he made all his journeys about the county on
horseback--and rode slowly home to Greshamsbury, thinking not so much
of the suggested marriage as of his own folly in thinking of it. How
could he be such an ass at his time of life as to allow the even
course of his way to be disturbed by any such idea? Of course he
could not propose to himself such a wife as Miss Dunstable without
having some thoughts as to her wealth; and it had been the pride of
his life so to live that the world might know that he was indifferent
about money. His profession was all in all to him; the air which he
breathed as well as the bread which he ate; and how could he follow
his profession if he made such a marriage as this? She would expect
him to go to London with her; and what would he become, dangling
at her heels there, known only to the world as the husband of the
richest woman in the town? The kind of life was one which would be
unsuitable to him; and yet, as he rode home, he could not resolve to
rid himself of the idea. He went on thinking of it, though he still
continued to condemn himself for keeping it in his thoughts. That
night at home he would make up his mind, so he declared to himself;
and would then write to his niece begging her to drop the subject.
Having so far come to a resolution he went on meditating what course
of life it might be well for him to pursue if he and Miss Dunstable
should aft