do with yourself?" said the old
man. "You know that Susan has at last persuaded me into retiring from
business. I have just concluded the purchase of a little property near
the seaside, about seven miles from the village of --- in Norfolk--it
adjoins the great Rainscourt estate. You know that part of the coast."

"Very well, sir; there is a famous landing-place there, on the
Rainscourt estate. It was formerly the property of Admiral De Courcy."

"Ah! we don't mean to smuggle any more, so that's no use. I should not
have known that it was near the Rainscourt property, only they inserted
it in the particulars of sale, as an advantage; though I confess I do
not see any particular advantage in a poor man living too near a rich
one. But answer my question--what are you going to do with yourself?
If I can assist you, McElvina, I will."

"I do not intend to go to sea any more."

"No! what then? I suppose you would like to marry, and settle on shore?
Well, if I can assist you, McElvina, I will."

"You could, indeed, assist me there, sir."

"Oh! Susan, I suppose. Nay, don't colour up; I've seen it long enough,
and if I had not meant that it should be so, I should have put an end to
it before. You are an honest man, McElvina, and I know nobody to whom I
would give my girl sooner than to you."

"You have, indeed, removed a weight from my mind, sir, and I hardly know
how to express my thanks to you for your good wishes; but I have yet to
obtain your daughter's consent."

"I know you have; you cannot expect that she will anticipate your wishes
as I have done. But as I wish this business to be decided at once, I
shall send her down to you, and I'll take a walk in the mean time. All
I can say is, that if she says she has no mind to you, don't you believe
her, for I know better."

"Susan!" said old Hornblow, going to the door.

"Yes, father."

"Come down, my dear, and stay with Captain McElvina. I am obliged to go
out."

Old Hornblow reached down his hat, put on his spencer, and departed;
while Susan, whose heart told her that so unusual a movement on her
father's part was not without some good reason, descended to the parlour
with a quickened pulse.

"Susan!" said McElvina, who had risen from his chair to receive her, as
soon as he heard her footsteps, "I have much to say to you, and I must
be as brief as I can, for my mind is in too agitated a state to bear
with much temporising. Do me the favour to take