to Miss Baker, "what
effect that would have on her husband's affections." She seemed,
indeed, to share some of Harcourt's opinions on the subject, and to
have a dislike to feminine economies, or at least to the use of them
under the surveillance of a man's eye. As far as she could see, the
marriage must be postponed indefinitely--at any rate, till after
George should have been called to the bar.

Miss Baker's voice was for a middle course. She suggested that they
should wait for Mr. Bertram's two thousand pounds and then marry.
They would then have an income increased to some extent. They
would also show a deference to the old man's views, which would
undoubtedly--so Miss Baker thought--have ultimate results of a most
beneficial nature. "After all," as she remarked more than once to her
niece, "who else is there?"

But the young people were quite as obstinate as the old man. George
would make no concession whatever to his uncle. He was ready to marry
on love and a small income, and he expected Caroline to show an equal
warmth. Caroline would by no means alter her views, or risk the
misery of an ill-provided nursery. It had been the one great resolve
of her life, that she would not be a poor man's wife. "She was ready
to wait," she said. "If she could trust and wait, surely George might
do so. A man, with all the world around him, encountered neither the
misery nor the risk in waiting that fell to a girl's lot."

The disputes incidental to these different opinions did not ever take
place between George and Caroline. He, from a feeling of chivalry,
abstained from discussing money matters with her; and she, from a
feeling of prudence, was equally silent with him. Poor Miss Baker was
the medium for it all. George of course would press with a lover's
ardour for an early day; and Caroline would of course say that an
immediate marriage was, she found, impracticable. And then each would
refer the other to Miss Baker.

Things went on in this way till the middle of May. Sometimes George
was almost angry, and wrote letters that were somewhat savage;
sometimes Caroline would be haughty, and then she too could write
letters which would tell her mind in good plain set terms. But they
were not near enough, or sufficiently often with each other, to
quarrel.

So matters went on till May; and then, on one fine May-day, Harcourt
and George together took their places in the train for Littlebath.

"I wonder what you'll think of her