saw your fingers hooked together
in the carriage. But now, Japhet, I should recommend a little
indifference--not exactly opposition, when your father proposes the
subject to you. It will make him more anxious, and when you consent,
more obliged to you. I have promised to call upon him to-morrow, on
that and other business, and you had better be out of the way."

"I shall be out of the way, sir: I mean to go with Harcourt to Lady de
Clare's. I shall ask for the carriage."

"He will certainly lend it to you, as he wishes to get rid of you; but
here we are. God bless you, my boy."

PART THREE, CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

THE BENGAL TIGER TAKEN IN THE TOILS, WHICH PROMISE A SPEEDY END TO
MINE--I KINDLY PERMIT MY FATHER TO INSIST UPON THE MARRIAGE THAT I HAVE
SET MY HEART UPON.

I found my father, who had now completely recovered from his accident,
walking up and down the room in a brown study. He did not speak to me
until after dinner, when he commenced with asking some questions
relative to Cecilia de Clare. I replied, "that I intended, if he did
not want the carriage, to call there to-morrow with Mr Harcourt."

"Is she very handsome?" inquired he.

"Very much so, sir. I do not think I ever saw a handsomer young person.
Yes, I do recollect one."

"Who was that?"

"A young lady with whom I was slightly acquainted, when living in the
country."

"I have been thinking, my dear boy, that with the competence which you
will have, it is right that you should marry early: in so doing you will
oblige your father, who is anxious to see his grandchildren before he
dies. My health is not very good."

I could not help smiling at this pathetic touch of the old `Governor's,'
who, if one could judge from appearances, was as strong as a lion, and
likely to last almost as long as his dutiful son. Moreover, his
appetite was enormous, and he invariably finished his bottle every day.
I did not, therefore, feel any serious alarm as to his health; but I
nevertheless replied, "Matrimony is a subject upon which I have never
thought,"--(ahem! a De Benyon never tells an untruth!)--"I am very young
yet, and am too happy to remain with you."

"But, my dear boy, I propose that you shall remain with me--we will all
live together. I do not intend that we shall part. I really wish,
Japhet, you would think seriously of it."

"My dear father, allow me to observe, that at present I am not in a
situation to support a wife, and I shou