esired. So he resolved to try another tack.

"What a very remarkable thing it is," he observed, applying to his
snuff-box, "that Thames Darrell, whom we all supposed dead,"--Kneebone
in his heart sincerely wished he _had_ been so,--"should turn out to be
alive after all. Strange, I shouldn't know him when he called on me."

"It _is_ strange," replied Winifred, artlessly. "_I_ knew him at once."

"Of course," rejoined Kneebone, a little maliciously, "but that's easily
accounted for. May I be permitted, as a very old and very dear friend of
your lamented parent, whose loss I shall ever deplore, to ask you one
question?"

"Undoubtedly," replied Winifred.

"And you will answer it frankly?"

"Certainly."

"Now for it," thought the woollen-draper, "I shall, at least, ascertain
how the land lies.--Well, then, my dear," he added aloud, "do you still
entertain the strong attachment you did to Captain Darrell?"

Winifred's cheeks glowed with blushes, and fixing her eyes, which
flashed with resentment, upon the questioner, she said:

"I have promised to answer your question, and I will do so. I love him
as a brother."

"_Only_ as a brother?" persisted Kneebone.

If Winifred remained silent, her looks would have disarmed a person of
less assurance than the woollen-draper.

"If you knew how much importance I attach to your answer," he continued
passionately, "you would not refuse me one. Were Captain Darrell to
offer you his hand, would you accept it?"

"Your impertinence deserves very different treatment, Sir," said
Winifred; "but, to put an end to this annoyance, I will tell you--I
would not."

"And why not?" asked Kneebone, eagerly.

"I will not submit to be thus interrogated," said Winifred, angrily.

"In the name of your lamented parent, whose memory I shall for ever
revere, I implore you to answer me," urged Kneebone, "why--why would you
not accept him?"

"Because our positions are different," replied Winifred, who could not
resist this appeal to her feelings.

"You are a paragon of prudence and discretion," rejoined the
woollen-draper, drawing his chair closer to hers. "Disparity of rank is
ever productive of unhappiness in the married state. When Captain
Darrell's birth is ascertained, I've no doubt he'll turn out a
nobleman's son. At least, I hope so for his sake as well as my own," he
added, mentally. "He has quite the air of one. And now, my angel, that I
am acquainted with your sentiments on this s