e of any kind. All that you have told me, then, is, with
great respect to you, nothing but mere rigmarole. I am sorry, however,
to hear that the daughter, poor girl, is dying. I hope in God she will
recover."

"There is no earthly probability--nay, possibility of it--which is a
stronger word--I know, my lord, she will die, and that very soon."

"You know, madam! How the deuce can you know? It is all in the hands of
God. I hope she will live to enjoy her property."

"My lord, I visited the girl in her illness, and life was barely in her;
I have, besides, the opinion of the physician who attended her, and
of another who was called in to consult upon her state, and both have
informed me that her recovery is hopeless."

"And what opinion does your son, Woodward, entertain upon the subject?"

"One, my lord, in complete keeping with his generous character. He is as
anxious for her recovery as your lordship."

"Well, I like that, at all events; it is a good point in him. Yes,
I like that--but, in the meantime, here are you calculating upon a
contingency that may never happen. The calculation is, I grant, not
overburdened with delicacy of feeling; but still it may proceed from
anxiety for the settlement and welfare of your son. Not an improbable
thing on the part of a mother, I grant that."

"Well, then, my lord," asked Mrs. Lindsay, "what is to be done? Come to
the point, as you very properly say yourself."

"In the first place bring me the written opinions of those two doctors.
They ought to know her state of health best, and whether she is likely
to recover or not. I know I am an old scoundrel in entering into a
matrimonial negotiation upon a principle so inhuman as the poor lady's
death; but still, if her demise is a certain thing, I don't see why
men of the world should not avail themselves of I such a circumstance.
Now, I wish to see poor Tom settled before I die; and, above all things,
united to a gentleman. Your son Woodward, Mrs. Lindsay, is a gentleman,
and what is more, I have reason to believe Tommy likes him. She speaks
well of him, and there is a great deal in that; because I know that if
she disliked him she would not conceal the fact. She has, occasionally,
much of her old uncle's bluntness about her, and will not say one thing
and think another; unless, indeed, when she has a design in it, and then
she is inscrutable."

"My own opinion is this, my lord: let my son wait upon Miss Riddle--let
him propos