d made another curtsey, and really did look very nice.

"Now though I have quoted the poets amiss, as your son informs me (for
which I tender my best thanks, and must amend my reading), I can hardly
be wrong in assuming that this young armiger must be the too attractive
cynosure to our poor little maiden. And for my part, she is welcome to
him. I have never been one of those who dwell upon distinctions of rank,
and birth, and such like; as if they were in the heart of nature, and
must be eternal. In early youth, I may have thought so, and been full
of that little pride. But now I have long accounted it one of the first
axioms of political economy--you are following me, Mistress Ridd?"

"Well, sir, I am doing my best; but I cannot quite keep up with you."

"Never mind, madam; I will be slower. But your son's intelligence is so
quick--"

"I see, sir; you thought that mine must be. But no; it all comes from
his father, sir. His father was that quick and clever--"

"Ah, I can well suppose it, madam. And a credit he is to both of you.
Now, to return to our muttons--a figure which you will appreciate--I may
now be regarded, I think, as this young lady's legal guardian; although
I have not had the honour of being formally appointed such. Her father
was the eldest son of Sir Ensor Doone; and I happened to be the second
son; and as young maidens cannot be baronets, I suppose I am 'Sir
Counsellor.' Is it so, Mistress Ridd, according to your theory of
genealogy?"

"I am sure I don't know, sir," my mother answered carefully; "I know not
anything of that name, sir, except in the Gospel of Matthew: but I see
not why it should be otherwise."

"Good, madam! I may look upon that as your sanction and approval: and
the College of Heralds shall hear of it. And in return, as Lorna's
guardian, I give my full and ready consent to her marriage with your
son, madam."

"Oh, how good of you, sir, how kind! Well, I always did say, that the
learnedest people were, almost always, the best and kindest, and the
most simple-hearted."

"Madam, that is a great sentiment. What a goodly couple they will be!
and if we can add him to our strength--"

"Oh no, sir, oh no!" cried mother: "you really must not think of it. He
has always been brought up so honest--"

"Hem! that makes a difference. A decided disqualification for domestic
life among the Doones. But, surely, he might get over those prejudices,
madam?"

"Oh no, sir! he never can: he nev