a defence from the sun--"oh, Frank, I want to
speak to you. I couldn't say anything at lunch because of everybody
being there. If you would only stop a moment till I get my breath.
Frank, my dear boy, I wish you joy. I do wish you joy with all my
heart. I should so like just to go and kiss her, and tell her I shall
love her for your sake."

"You will soon love her for her own sake," said Frank, to whom even
this simple-minded sympathy was very grateful; "she is a great deal
better than I am."

"There is just one thing," said Miss Dora. "Oh, Frank, my dear, you
know I don't pretend to be clever, like Leonora, or able to give you
advice; but there _is_ one thing. You know you have nothing to marry
upon, and all has gone wrong. You are not to have Wentworth, and you
are not to have Skelmersdale, and I think the family is going out of
its senses not to see who is the most worthy. You have got nothing to
live upon, my dear, dear boy!" said Miss Dora, withdrawing the
handkerchief from her head in the excitement of the moment to apply it
to her eyes.

"That is true enough," said the Perpetual Curate; "but then we have
not made up our minds that we must marry immediately--"

"Frank," said aunt Dora, with solemnity, breaking into his speech,
"there is just _one_ thing; and I can't hold my tongue, though it may
be very foolish, and they will all say it is my fault." It was a very
quiet summer-day, but still there was a faint rustle in the branches
which alarmed the timid woman. She put her hand upon her nephew's arm,
and hastened him on to the little summer-house in the wall, which was
her special retirement. "Nobody ever comes here," said Miss Dora;
"they will never think of looking for us here. I am sure I never
interfere with Leonora's arrangements, nor take anything upon myself;
but there is one thing, Frank--"

"Yes," said the Curate, "I understand what you mean: you are going to
warn me about love in a cottage, and how foolish it would be to marry
upon nothing; but, my dear aunt, we are not going to do anything rash;
there is no such dreadful haste; don't be agitated about it," said the
young man, with a smile. He was half amused and half irritated by the
earnestness which almost took away the poor lady's breath.

"You _don't_ know what I mean," said aunt Dora. "Frank, you know very
well I never interfere; but I can't help being agitated when I see
you on the brink of such a precipice. Oh, my dear boy, don't be
ove