e it. There
should be,--there should have been,--I don't know what; but I am
quite sure the man has no right to come to me, and I won't see him."
To this resolution Ayala clung, and, as she was very firm about it,
Mrs. Dosett, after consultation with her husband, at last gave way,
and consented to see Captain Batsby herself.

In due time Captain Batsby came. At any knock heard at the door
during this period Ayala flew out of the drawing-room into her own
chamber; and at the Captain's knock she flew with double haste,
feeling sure that this was the special knock. The man was shown
up, and in a set speech declared his purpose to Mrs. Dosett, and
expressed a hope that Lady Albury might have written on the subject.
Might he be allowed to see the young lady?

"I fear that it would be of no service, Captain Batsby."

"Of no service?"

"On receiving Lady Albury's letter I was of course obliged to tell my
niece the honour you proposed to do her."

"I am quite in earnest, you know," said the Captain.

"So I suppose, as Lady Albury would not have written, nor would you
have come on such a mission. But so is my niece in earnest."

"She will, at any rate, hear what I have got to say."

"She would rather not," said Mrs. Dosett. "She thinks that it would
only be painful to both of you. As she has quite made up her mind
that she cannot accept the honour you propose to do her, what good
would it serve?"

"Is Miss Dormer at home?" asked the Captain, suddenly. Mrs. Dosett
hesitated for a while, anxious to tell a lie on the matter, but
fearing to do so. "I suppose she is at home," continued the urgent
lover.

"Miss Dormer is at present in her own chamber."

"Then I think I ought to see her," continued the Captain. "She can't
know at present what is my income."

"Lady Albury has told us that it is sufficient."

"But that means nothing. Your niece cannot be aware that I have a
very pretty little place of my own down in Berkshire."

"I don't think it would make a difference," said Mrs. Dosett.

"Or that I shall be willing to settle upon her a third of my income.
It is not many gentlemen who will do as much as that for a young
lady, when the young lady has nothing of her own."

"I am sure you are very generous."

"Yes, I am. I always was generous. And I have no impediments to get
rid of; not a trouble of that kind in all the world. And I don't owe
a shilling. Very few young men, who have lived as much in the world
as I