ved to have
her own way brings another man forward; fathers are too simple to see
that is the only way. And then a designing mother cajoles the poor girl
and deceives her, and does a number of things a man would call
villainies. Don't you fret your heart out for so small a thing as a
father's opposition. You are sure to tire him out if he loves you, and if
he doesn't love you, or loves money better, why, then, he is not a worthy
rival to my cousin Walter, for that man really loves you, and would marry
you if you had not a penny. So would Percy Fitzroy marry me. And that is
why I prefer him to the grenadiers and plungers with silky mustaches, and
half an eye on me and an eye and a half on my money."

Many other things passed between these two, but what we have endeavored
to repeat was the cream of Julia's discourse, and both her advice and
her sympathy were for the time a wonderful comfort to the love-sick,
solitary girl.

But our business is with Walter Clifford. As soon as he was announced,
Mr. Bartley dismissed his rugged visitors, and received Walter affably,
though a little stiffly.

Walter opened his business at once, and told him he had come to ask his
permission to court his daughter. He said he had admired her from the
first moment, and now his happiness depended on her, and he felt sure he
could make her happy; not, of course, by his money, but by his devotion.
Then as to making a proper provision for her--

Here Bartley stopped him.

"My young friend," said he, "there can be no objection either to your
person or your position. But there are difficulties, and at present they
are serious ones. Your father has other views."

"But, Mr. Bartley," said Walter, eagerly, "he must abandon them. The lady
is engaged."

"Well, then," said Bartley, "it will be time to come to me when he has
abandoned those views, and also overcome his prejudices against me and
mine. But there is another difficulty. My daughter is not old enough to
marry, and I object to long engagements. Everything, therefore, points to
delay, and on this I must insist."

Bartley having taken this moderate ground, remained immovable. He
promised to encourage no other suitor; but in return he said he had a
right to demand that Walter would not disturb his daughter's peace of
mind until the prospect was clearer. In short, instead of being taken by
surprise, the result showed Bartley quite prepared for this interview,
and he baffled the young man wi