meditating.
And so the squire asked me if I had known him long, and about his
principles, religious and moral; his worldly prospects, and so forth. To
all of which I replied by stating, that, with the exception of being
addicted to flirting a little with the Muses, which old women might
consider as only one step removed from absolute profligacy, he was a
well-disposed young man, and would doubtless grow wiser as he increased
in years; but that his fortune was very limited, and that all his
expectations in that way wouldn't fill a nutshell."

"Ah, there's the rub!" interposed Vernon; "how can a poor fellow with my
small pittance pretend to aspire to the hand of one with such splendid
expectations? My poverty, as I've long foreseen, must mar my every hope,
even if every other obstacle could be removed."

"I don't see that exactly," rejoined Frank; "for, when I told the squire
what your circumstances actually were, and that you had managed to live
creditably upon your small income without getting into debt, he said, if
your head wasn't crammed so confoundedly full of poetical nonsense,
which set you always hunting after shadows, instead of grasping
substances, he should be exceedingly rejoiced to have you for a
son-in-law. So, if you could make up your mind to relinquish your love
for writing poetry"--

"The poetry be hanged!" interrupted Vernon with considerable vehemence.
"I'll cast it to the dogs--the winds--send it to Halifax, Jericho, any
where. Oh! my dear Frank, what a happy fellow you've made me!"

"Which just finished the bottle," continued Frank; "and I find that
somehow or other I've got a precious headach this morning. I wonder how
the squire feels to-day. Will you Vernon, that's a good fellow, give me
a glass of water?"

"There's nothing on earth I wouldn't give you now, my dear Frank, except
my dear Mary; but do you think she will ever consent?"

"Yes, to be sure she will," answered Frank. "I know she will, and that
she is by no means best pleased at your hanging fire so long. I know
this to be the fact, though I mustn't tell you how, why, or wherefore;
but if you don't propose soon she'll consider you are acting neither
fairly nor honourably to her."

"I'll do the deed to-day," said Vernon resolutely.

And so he did.

* * * * *

A very few months more had passed away, before our two heroes were on
the same day united to the fair objects of their choice; and the
ge