rrection. From
fifteen to twenty not a day passed in which he did not promise to cut me
off with a shilling. I was a sad dog it is true, but then it was a part
of my nature--a point of my faith.

In Kate, however, I had a firm friend, and I knew it. She was a good
girl, and told me very sweetly that I might have her (plum and all)
whenever I could badger my granduncle, Rumgudgeon, into the necessary
consent. Poor girl! she was barely fifteen, and without this consent her
little amount in the funds was not come-at-able until five immeasurable
summers had "dragged their slow length along." What then to do? In vain
we besieged the old gentleman with importunities. It would have stirred
the indignation of Job himself to see how much like an old mouser he
behaved to us two little mice. In his heart he wished for nothing more
ardently than our union. He had made up his mind to this all along. In
fact he would have given ten thousand pounds from his own pocket (Kate's
plum was _her own_) if he could have invented anything like an excuse
for complying with our very natural wishes. But then we had been so
imprudent as to broach the matter ourselves. Not to oppose it under
the circumstances, I sincerely believe, was not in his power.

[Illustration: "IN KATE, HOWEVER, I HAD A FIRM FRIEND"]

My granduncle was, after his own fashion, a man of his word, no doubt.
The spirit of his vows he made no scruple of setting at naught, but the
letter was a bond inviolable. Now it was this peculiarity in his
disposition of which Kate's ingenuity enabled us one fine day, not long
after our interview in the drawing-room, to take a very unexpected
advantage.

It happened then--so the Fates ordered it--that among the naval
acquaintances of my betrothed were two gentlemen who had just set foot
upon the shores of England, after a year's absence, each, in foreign
travel. In company with these gentlemen, Kate and I, preconcertedly,
paid uncle Rumgudgeon a visit on the afternoon of Sunday, October the
tenth--just three weeks after the memorable decision which had so
cruelly defeated our hopes. For about half an hour the conversation ran
upon ordinary topics; but at last we contrived, quite naturally, to give
it the following turn:

_Capt. Pratt._ "Well, I have been absent just one year. Just one year
to-day, as I live--let me see! yes!--this is October the tenth. You
remember, Mr. Rumgudgeon, I called this day year, to bid you good-bye.
And by th