inue," said he, softly; "I am giving you all my attention.
Having given the sketch of one of so much value to his friends, I am
waiting now to hear of the other whom nobody is interested for."

"This is no time for sarcasm, however witty, Mr. Maitland; and I am sure
your better feeling will tell you that I could not have come here to
listen to it. Do not be offended with me for my bluntness, nor refuse
what I have asked you."

"You have not asked anything from me," said he, smiling.

"Well, I will now," said she, with more courage in her tone; "I will
ask you not to go any further in this affair,--to pledge your word to me
that it shall stop here."

"Remember I am but one; any promise I may make you can only take effect
with the concurrence of another."

"I know nothing--I want to know nothing--of these subtleties; tell me
flatly you'll not give this old man a meeting."

"I will, if you 'll only say how I am to avoid it. No, no; do not be
angry with me," said he, slightly touching the hand that rested on his
arm. "I'd do far more than this to win one, even the faintest smile that
ever said, 'I thank you;' but there is a difficulty here. You don't know
with what he charges me."

"Perhaps I suspect it."

"It is that after paying most marked attention to his daughter, I have
suddenly ceased to follow up my suit, and declared that I meant nothing
by it."

"Well?" said she, quietly.

"Well," repeated he. "Surely no one knows better than you that there was
no foundation for this."

"I! how should I know it?"

"At all events," replied he, with some irritation of manner, "you could
n't believe it."

"I declare I don't know," said she, hesitatingly, for the spirit of
drollery had got the better even of the deep interest of the moment,--"I
declare I don't know, Mr. Maitland. There is a charm in the manner of an
unsophisticated country girl which men of the world are often the very
first to acknowledge."

"Charming unsophistication!" muttered he, half aloud.

"At all events, Mr. Maitland, it is no reason that because you don't
admire a young lady, you are to shoot her papa."

"How delightfully illogical you are!" said he; and, strangely enough,
there was an honest admiration in the way he said it.

"I don't want to convince, sir; I want to be obeyed. What I insist upon
is, that this matter shall end here. Do you mind, Mr. Maitland, that it
end here?"

"Only show me how, and I obey you."

"Do you mean to s