ave had some very good
times; but the fact is, that I have been too prodigal of my strength,
not thought enough about the future. It is a great mistake, and one of
the worst results is that I am utterly _blase_ of everything; even _la
belle passion_ is played out for me. I haven't seen a woman I care
twopence about for ten years."

"Ah! you should sell this place, and take a house in town; it would
suit you much better."

"I can do that without selling the place. I don't intend to sell the
place--in fact, nothing would induce me to do so. Some day I may
marry, and want to transmit it to some future Caresfoot; but I confess
I don't mean to do that just yet. Marry when you want a nurse, but
never before; that's my maxim. Marriage is an excellent institution
for parsons and fools, the two classes that Providence has created to
populate the world; but a wise man should as soon think of walking
into a spring-trap. Take your own case, for instance, my dear Philip;
look what marriage led to."

"At any rate," answered his cousin, bitterly, "it led to your
advantage."

"Exactly; and that is one of the reasons why I have such a respect for
the institution in the abstract. It has been my personal benefactor,
and I worship it accordingly--at a distance. By the way, talking of
marriage reminds me of its legitimate fruits. Bellamy tells me that
your daughter Angela (if I had a daughter, I should call her Diabola,
it is more appropriate for a woman) has grown uncommonly handsome.
Bring her to see me; I adore beauty in all its forms, especially its
female form. Is she really so handsome?"

"I am no judge, but you will soon have an opportunity of forming an
opinion--that is, I hope so. I propose coming with Angela to make a
formal call on you to-morrow."

"Good. Tell my fair cousin that I shall be certain to be in, and be
prepared, metaphorically, to fall at the feet of so much loveliness.
By the way, that reminds me; you have heard of Bellamy's, or rather
Mrs. Bellamy's, good fortune, I suppose?"

"No."

"What--not? Why, he is now Sir John Bellamy, knight."

"Indeed! How is that?"

"You remember the bye-election six months back?"

"Oh, yes! I was actually badgered by Mrs. Bellamy into promising to
vote, much against my personal convenience."

"Exactly. Well, just at the time, old Prescott died, you may remember
that Mr. Showers, the member of the Government, was unseated on
petition from some borough or other, and came