But eight hundred pounds sterling per annum, descending as
it were in a golden avalanche on the mind of a Scottish minister
(accustomed to thirty years' annual contemplation of seventy-four
pounds)--eight hundred a year, in one young man's pocket, I say,
completely overpowered me. I just managed to answer, "Wait till
tomorrow"--and hurried out of doors to recover my self-respect, if the
thing was to be anywise done. I took my way through the valley. The sun
was shining, for a wonder. When I saw my shadow on the hillside, I saw
the Golden Calf as an integral part of me, bearing this inscription in
letters of flame--"Here's another of them!"

_November 30th._--I have made amends for yesterday's backsliding; I have
acted as becomes my parental dignity and my sacred calling.

The temptation to do otherwise, has not been wanting. Here is sister
Judith's advice: "Make sure that he has got the money first; and, for
Heaven's sake, nail him!" Here is Mr. Marmaduke's proposal: "Make any
conditions you please, so long as you give me your daughter." And,
lastly, here is Felicia's confession: "Father, my heart is set on him.
Oh, don't be unkind to me for the first time in your life!"

But I have stood firm. I have refused to hear any more words on the
subject from any one of them, for the next six months to come.

"So serious a venture as the venture of marriage," I said, "is not to
be undertaken on impulse. As soon as Mr. Marmaduke can travel, I request
him to leave us, and not to return again for six months. If, after that
interval, he is still of the same mind, and my daughter is still of the
same mind, let him return to Cauldkirk, and (premising that I am in all
other respects satisfied) let him ask me for his wife."

There were tears, there were protestations; I remained immovable. A week
later, Mr. Marmaduke left us, on his way by easy stages to the south. I
am not a hard man. I rewarded the lovers for their obedience by keeping
sister Judith out of the way, and letting them say their farewell words
(accompaniments included) in private.

III.

May 28th.--A letter from Mr. Marmaduke, informing me that I may
expect him at Cauldkirk, exactly at the expiration of the six months'
interval--viz., on June the seventh.

Writing to this effect, he added a timely word on the subject of his
family. Both his parents were dead; his only brother held a civil
appointment in India, the place being named. His uncle (his father's
b