ther in
similar circumstances."

Mary paused a moment before she replied, and then she spoke out.

"Dear Aunt Sarah, what does all this mean? I know you are speaking at
me, and yet I don't quite understand it. Everything between me and
Captain Marrable is over. I have no possible means of influencing
his life. If I were told to-morrow that he had given up the army and
taken to living altogether at Dunripple, I should have no means of
judging whether he had done well or ill. Indeed, I should have no
right to judge."

"You must be glad that the family should be united."

"I am glad. Now, is that all?"

"I want you to bring yourself to think without regret of his probable
marriage with this young lady."

"You don't suppose I shall blame him if he marries her."

"But I want you to see it in such a light that it shall not make you
unhappy."

"I think, dear aunt, that we had better not talk of it. I can assure
you of this, that if I could prevent him from marrying by holding up
my little finger, I would not do it."

"It would be ten thousand pities," urged the old lady, "that either
his life or yours should be a sacrifice to a little episode, which,
after all, only took a week or two in the acting."

"I can only answer for myself," said Mary. "I don't mean to be a
sacrifice."

There were many such conversations, and by degrees they did have an
effect upon Mary Lowther. She learned to believe that it was probable
that Captain Marrable should marry Miss Brownlow, and, of course,
asked herself questions as to the effect such a marriage would have
upon herself, which she answered more fully than she did those which
were put to her by her aunt. Then there came to Parson John some
papers, which required his signature, in reference to the disposal
of a small sum of money, he having been one of the trustees to his
brother's marriage settlement. This was needed in regard to some
provision which the baronet was making for his niece, and which, if
read aright, would rather have afforded evidence against than in
favour of the chance of her immediate marriage; but it was taken
at Loring to signify that the thing was to be done, and that the
courtship was at any rate in progress. Mary did not believe all
that she heard; but there was left upon her mind an idea that
Walter Marrable was preparing himself for the sudden change of his
affections. Then she determined that, should he do so, she would not
judge him to have done wr