enly off," the widow interposed, "I don't
know what may be the consequence. I know Arthur's ardent temper,
the intensity of his affections, the agony of his pleasures and
disappointments, and I tremble at this one if it must be. Indeed,
indeed, it must not come on him too suddenly."

"My dear madam," the Major said, with an air of the deepest
commiseration "I've no doubt Arthur will have to suffer confoundedly
before he gets over the little disappointment. But is he, think you, the
only person who has been so rendered miserable?"

"No, indeed," said Helen, holding down her eyes. She was thinking of her
own case, and was at that moment seventeen again--and most miserable.

"I, myself," whispered her brother-in-law, "have undergone a
disappointment in early life. A young woman with fifteen thousand
pounds, niece to an Earl--most accomplished creature--a third of her
money would have run up my promotion in no time, and I should have
been a lieutenant--colonel at thirty: but it might not be. I was but a
penniless lieutenant: her parents interfered: and I embarked for
India, where I had the honour of being secretary to Lord Buckley, when
commander-in-Chief without her. What happened? We returned our letters,
sent back our locks of hair (the Major here passed his fingers through
his wig), we suffered--but we recovered. She is now a baronet's wife
with thirteen grown-up children; altered, it is true, in person; but her
daughters remind me of what she was, and the third is to be presented
early next week."

Helen did not answer. She was still thinking of old times. I suppose
if one lives to be a hundred: there are certain passages of one's early
life whereof the recollection will always carry us back to youth again,
and that Helen was thinking of one of these.

"Look at my own brother, my dear creature," the Major continued
gallantly: "he himself, you know, had a little disappointment when
he started in the--the medical profession--an eligible opportunity
presented itself. Miss Balls, I remember the name, was daughter of an
apoth--a practitioner in very large practice; my brother had very
nearly succeeded in his suit.--But difficulties arose: disappointments
supervened, and--and I am sure he had no reason to regret the
disappointment, which gave him this hand," said the Major, and he once
more politely pressed Helen's fingers.

"Those marriages between people of such different rank and age," said
Helen, "are sad things.