quiet
dinner with his wife and daughter; and so, and so, it went on, nobody
much knew how, until one day, when Mr. Galindo received a formal letter
from his brother's bankers, announcing Sir Lawrence's death, of malaria
fever, at Albano, and congratulating Sir Hubert on his accession to the
estates and the baronetcy. The king is dead--"Long live the king!" as I
have since heard that the French express it.

Sir Hubert and his wife were greatly surprised. Sir Lawrence was but two
years older than his brother; and they had never heard of any illness
till they heard of his death. They were sorry; very much shocked; but
still a little elated at the succession to the baronetcy and estates. The
London bankers had managed everything well. There was a large sum of
ready money in their hands, at Sir Hubert's service, until he should
touch his rents, the rent-roll being eight thousand a-year. And only
Laurentia to inherit it all! Her mother, a poor clergyman's daughter,
began to plan all sorts of fine marriages for her; nor was her father
much behind his wife in his ambition. They took her up to London, when
they went to buy new carriages, and dresses, and furniture. And it was
then and there she made my lady's acquaintance. How it was that they
came to take a fancy to each other, I cannot say. My lady was of the old
nobility,--grand, compose, gentle, and stately in her ways. Miss Galindo
must always have been hurried in her manner, and her energy must have
shown itself in inquisitiveness and oddness even in her youth. But I
don't pretend to account for things: I only narrate them. And the fact
was this:--that the elegant, fastidious countess was attracted to the
country girl, who on her part almost worshipped my lady. My lady's
notice of their daughter made her parents think, I suppose, that there
was no match that she might not command; she, the heiress of eight
thousand a-year, and visiting about among earls and dukes. So when they
came back to their old Westmoreland Hall, and Mark Gibson rode over to
offer his hand and his heart, and prospective estate of nine hundred a-
year, to his old companion and playfellow, Laurentia, Sir Hubert and Lady
Galindo made very short work of it. They refused him plumply themselves;
and when he begged to be allowed to speak to Laurentia, they found some
excuse for refusing him the opportunity of so doing, until they had
talked to her themselves, and brought up every argument and