boy. And the very promise I have asked of you is
as much for your sake as for hers. No girl can marry before she is
twenty without serious risk of life, and almost certain loss of health
and beauty; that so many do so is one reason why there are such numbers
of sickly and faded young wives. If Clara's constitution should be
broken down by prematurely assuming the cares and burdens of matrimony,
you would be as unfortunate in having a sickly wife as she would be in
losing her health."

"Oh, sir, I promise you that, no matter how much I may wish to do so, I
will not be tempted to make a wife of Clara until she has attained the
age you have prescribed. But at the same time I must assure you that
such is my love for her that, if accident should now make her an invalid
for life, she would be as dear--as dear--yes, much dearer to me, if
possible, on that very account; and if I could not marry her for a wife,
I should marry her only for the dear privilege of waiting on her night
and day. Oh, believe this of me, and leave your dear daughter with an
easy mind to my faithful care," said Traverse, with a boyish blush
suffusing his cheeks and tears filling his eyes.

"I do, Traverse, I do; and now to other things."

"Are you not talking too much, dear friend?"

"No, no; I must talk while I have time. I was about to say that long ago
my will was made. Clara, you know, is the heiress of all I possess. You,
as soon as you become her husband, will receive her fortune with her. I
have made no reservation in her favor against you; for he to whom I can
entrust the higher charge of my daughter's person, happiness and honor I
can also intrust her fortune."

"Dear sir, I am glad for Clara's sake that she has a fortune; as for me,
I hope you will believe me that I would have gladly dispensed with it
and worked for dear Clara all the days of my life."

"I do believe it; but this will was made, Traverse, three years ago,
before any of us anticipated the present relations between you and my
daughter, and while you were both still children. Therefore, I appointed
my wife's half-brother, Clara's only male relative, Colonel Le Noir, as
her guardian. It is true we have never been very intimate, for our paths
in life widely diverged; nor has my Clara seen him within her
recollection; for, since her mother's death, which took place in her
infancy, he has never been at our house, but he is a man of high
reputation and excellent character. I have