e Neuchatels before we
came?"

"They are such a good family," said Endymion; "so kind, so hospitable,
such true friends. And Mr. Neuchatel himself is one of the shrewdest men
that probably ever lived. I like talking with him, or rather, I like to
hear him talk."

"O Endymion," said Lady Roehampton, "if you were to marry Adriana, my
happiness would be complete."

"Adriana will never marry," said Endymion; "she is afraid of being
married for her money. I know twenty men who would marry her, if they
thought there was a chance of being accepted; and the best man, Eusford,
did make her an offer--that I know. And where could she find a match
more suitable?--high rank, and large estate, and a man that everybody
speaks well of."

"Adriana will never marry except for the affections; there you are
right, Endymion; she must love and she must be loved; but that is not
very unreasonable in a person who is young, pretty, accomplished, and
intelligent."

"She is all that," said Endymion moodily.

"And she loves you," said Lady Roehampton.

Endymion rather started, looked up for a moment at his sister, and then
withdrew as hastily an agitated glance, and then with his eyes on the
ground said, in a voice half murmuring, and yet scoffingly: "I should
like to see Mr. Neuchatel's face were I to ask permission to marry his
daughter. I suppose he would not kick me downstairs; that is out of
fashion; but he certainly would never ask me to dinner again, and that
would be a sacrifice."

"You jest, Endymion; I am not jesting."

"There are some matters that can only be treated as a jest; and my
marriage with Miss Neuchatel is one."

"It would make you one of the most powerful men in England," said his
sister.

"Other impossible events would do the same."

"It is not impossible; it is very possible," said his sister, "believe
me, trust in me. The happiness of their daughter is more precious to the
Neuchatels even than their fortune."

"I do not see why, at my age, I should be in such a hurry to marry,"
said Endymion.

"You cannot marry too soon, if by so doing you obtain the great object
of life. Early marriages are to be deprecated, especially for men,
because they are too frequently imprudent; but when a man can marry
while he is young, and at once realise, by so doing, all the results
which successful time may bring to him, he should not hesitate."

"I hesitate very much," said Endymion. "I should hesitate very much,
even