have to lean upon now?"

"What else should you want?"

"Nothing,--nothing,--nothing! I want nothing else. I wonder whether
there is anybody in all the world who has got so completely
everything that she ever dreamed of wanting as I have. But if you
could have been only my lover for a little longer--!" Then he assured
her that he would be her lover just the same, even though they were
husband and wife. Alas, no! There he had promised more than it is
given to a man to perform. Faith, honesty, steadiness of purpose,
joined to the warmest love and the truest heart, will not enable a
husband to maintain the sweetness of that aroma which has filled with
delight the senses of the girl who has leaned upon his arm as her
permitted lover.

"What a happy fellow you are!" said Mr. Greene, as, in the intimacy
of the moment, they walked across the park together.

"Why don't you get a wife for yourself?"

"Yes; with L120 a-year!"

"With a little money you might."

"I don't want to have to look for the money; and if I did I shouldn't
get it. I often think how very unfairly things are divided in this
world."

"That will all be made up in the next."

"Not if one covets one's neighbour's wife,--or even his ass," said
Mr. Greene.

On the return of the two lovers to the house from their walk there
were Mr. and Mrs. Dosett, who would much rather have stayed away had
they not been unwilling not to show their mark of affection to their
niece. I doubt whether they were very happy, but they were at any
rate received with every distinction. Sir Thomas and Aunt Emmeline
were asked, but they made some excuse. Sir Thomas knew very well that
he had nothing in common with Sir Harry Albury; and, as for Aunt
Emmeline, her one journey to Stalham had been enough for her. But Sir
Thomas was again very liberal, and sent down as his contribution to
the wedding presents the very necklace which Ayala had refused from
her cousin Tom. "Upon my word, your uncle is magnificent," said Lady
Albury, upon which the whole story was told to her. Lucy and her
husband were away on their tour, as were Gertrude and hers on theirs.
This was rather a comfort, as Captain Batsby's presence at the house
would have been a nuisance. But there was quite enough of guests to
make the wedding, as being a country wedding, very brilliant. Among
others, old Tony Tappett was there, mindful of the manner in which
Cranbury Brook had been ridden, and of Croppy's presence when t