do
make it, I shall be prepared to speak definitely to him upon all matters
of business. He will think, otherwise, that I am trifling with him. To
go and request of a man like your father, a shrewd, experienced man of
the world like Mr. Temple, permission to marry his daughter, without
showing to him that I am prepared with the means of maintaining a
family, is little short of madness. He would be offended with me, he
would be prejudiced against me. I must, therefore, settle something
first with Sir Ratcliffe.

Much, you know, unfortunately, I cannot offer your father; but still,
sweet love, there must at least be an appearance of providence and
management. We must not disgust your father with our union.'

'Oh! how can he be disgusted?'

'Dear one! This, then, is what I propose; that, as to-morrow we must
comparatively be separated, I should take advantage of the next few
days, and get to Bath, and bring affairs to some arrangement. Until my
return I would advise you to say nothing to your father.'

'How can I live under the same roof with him, under such circumstances?'
exclaimed Miss Temple; 'how can I meet his eye, how can I speak to him
with the consciousness of a secret engagement, with the recollection
that, all the time he is lavishing his affection upon me, my heart
is yearning for another, and that, while he is laying plans of future
companionship, I am meditating, perhaps, an eternal separation!'

'Sweet Henrietta, listen to me one moment. Suppose I had quitted you
last night for Bath, merely for this purpose, as indeed we had once
thought of, and that your father had arrived at Ducie before I had
returned to make my communication: would you style your silence, under
such circumstances, a secret engagement? No, no, dear love; this is
an abuse of terms. It would be a delicate consideration for a parent's
feelings.'

'O Ferdinand! would we were united, and had no cares!'

'You would not consider our projected union a secret engagement, if,
after passing to-morrow with your father, you expected me on the
next day to communicate to him our position. Is it any more a secret
engagement because six or seven days are to elapse before this
communication takes place, instead of one? My Henrietta is indeed
fighting with shadows!'

'Ferdinand, I cannot reason like you; but I feel unhappy when I think of
this.'

'Dearest Henrietta! feel only that you are loved. Think, darling, the
day will come when we shall s