y, I hear that Mr. Rutland pays his addresses to you, and
visits at Highmore."

"Yes, he has been there twice."

"He is welcome to your father; and his prospects are dazzling; and he
is not a boy, for he has long mustaches."

"I am not dazzled by his mustaches, and still less by his prospects,"
said the fair young beauty.

"You are an extraordinary girl."

"That she is," said Mrs. Bassett. "Her father has no more power over
her than I have."

"Oh, mamma! am I a disobedient girl, then?"

"No, no. Only in this one thing, I see you will go your own way."

Lady Bassett put in her word. "Well, but this one thing is the
happiness or misery of her whole life. I cannot blame her for looking
well before she leaps."

A grateful look from Ruperta's glorious eyes repaid the speaker.

"But," said Lady Bassett, tenderly, "it is something to have two
mothers when you marry, instead of one; and you would have two, my
love; I would try and live for you."

This touched Ruperta to the heart; she curled round Lady Bassett's
neck, and they kissed each other like mother and daughter.

"This is too great a temptation," said Ruperta. "Yes; I _will_ engage
myself to Cousin Compton, if papa's consent can be obtained. Without
his consent I could not marry any one."

"Nobody can obtain it, if you cannot," said Mrs. Bassett.

Ruperta shook her head. "Mark my words, mamma, it will take me years to
gain it. Papa is as obstinate as a mule. To be sure, I am as obstinate
as fifty."

"It shall not take years, nor yet months," said Lady Bassett. "I know
_Mr. Bassett's_ objection, and I will remove it, cost me what it may."

This speech surprised the other two ladies so, they made no reply.

Said Lady Bassett firmly, "Do you pledge yourself to me, if I can
obtain Mr. Bassett's consent?"

"I do," said Ruperta. "But--"

"You think my power with your father must be smaller than yours. I hope
to show you you are mistaken."

The ladies rose to go: Lady Bassett took leave of them thus: "Good-by,
my most valued friend, and sister in sorrow; good-by, my dear
daughter."

At the gate of Huntercombe, whom should they meet but Compton Bassett,
looking very pale and unhappy.

He was upon honor not to speak to Ruperta; but he gazed on her with a
wistful and terrified look that was very touching. She gave him a soft
pitying smile in return, that drove him almost wild with hope.

That night Richard Bassett sat in his chair, gloomy.

Whe