ary, indeed,
was not inclined to keep secrets from her aunt, and her very long
absence,--so much longer than had at first been intended,--could
hardly have been sanctioned unless some reason had been given. There
had been many letters on the subject, not only between Mary and her
aunt, but between Mrs. Fenwick and her very old friend Miss Marrable.
Of course these latter letters had spoken loudly the praises of
Mr. Gilmore, and Miss Marrable had become quite one of the Gilmore
faction. She desired that her niece should marry; but that she should
marry a gentleman. She would have infinitely preferred to see Mary
an old maid, than to hear that she was going to give herself to any
suitor contaminated by trade. Now Mr. Gilmore's position was exactly
that which Miss Marrable regarded as being the best in England.
He was a country gentleman, living on his own acres, a justice of
the peace, whose father and grandfather and great-grandfather had
occupied exactly the same position. Such a marriage for Mary would be
quite safe; and in those days one did hear so often of girls making,
she would not say improper marriages, but marriages which in her
eyes were not fitting! Mr. Gilmore, she thought, exactly filled that
position which entitled a gentleman to propose marriage to such a
lady as Mary Lowther.

"Yes, my dear, I am glad to have you back again. Of course I have
been a little lonely, but I bear that kind of thing better than most
people. Thank God, my eyes are good."

"You are looking so well, Aunt Sarah!"

"I am well. I don't know how other women get so much amiss; but God
has been very good to me."

"And so pretty," said Mary, kissing her.

"My dear, it's a pity you're not a young gentleman."

"You are so fresh and nice, aunt. I wish I could always look as you
do."

"What would Mr. Gilmore say?"

"Oh, Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Gilmore! I am so weary of Mr.
Gilmore."

"Weary of him, Mary?"

"Weary of myself because of him--that is what I mean. He has behaved
always well, and I am not at all sure that I have. And he is a
perfect gentleman. But I shall never be Mrs. Gilmore, Aunt Sarah."

"Janet says that she thinks you will."

"Janet is mistaken. But, dear aunt, don't let us talk about it at
once. Of course you shall hear everything in time, but I have had so
much of it. Let us see what new books there are. Cast Iron! You don't
mean to say you have come to that?"

"I shan't read it."

"But I will, au