r attack. "I believe," said
I, "that both Mr Horner and Mr Mawley were only introduced to Miss
Clyde a short time previously to myself."

Bless you, I was a child in her practised hands! Fancy my making such a
blunder as to show her where the shoe pinched me!

"I think, Mr Lorton," she replied, "that _I_ am the best judge as to
whom I consider my daughter's friends. Mr Mawley is a clergyman of the
parish, and Mr Horner the nephew of a gentleman whom I have known for
years!"--Ah! she _did_ know about Horner's expectations, then; I thought
she did!--"But," she continued, in a slightly less frigid tone, probably
on account of seeing Min's agitation, and from the belief that she had
put me down sufficiently--"But, Mr Lorton, I do not wish to appear
unkind; and, as you never thought of all this, most likely, my daughter
may keep the bird you kindly brought her, if she likes."

"Oh, thank you, mamma," said Min, caressing Dicky Chips, who thereupon
burst into a paean of melody, in which the opening bars of the "Silver
Trumpets" march and "Green grow the Rushes, O" were mixed up
harmoniously, in splendid confusion. Knowing little bullfinch that he
was! He succeeded, as peradventure he intended, in at once turning the
conversation into a fresh channel, where Min's constraint and my
embarrassment were soon dispelled.

Mrs Clyde had not been a bit put out during the entire interview.

She was now, as she had been all along, as cool and collected, as suave
and serene, as possible. In this respect she somewhat resembled Horner,
her promising young friend--nothing could put her out--although _her_
mental equilibrium resulted from habit and training; while Horner's, in
my opinion, was entirely owing to his natural apathy and inherent
dulness of disposition.

Shortly after hostilities had terminated between us, and a truce
declared, Mrs Clyde said that she hoped that I would kindly excuse
herself and Min, as they had to prepare to go out to make several calls.

Thus politely dismissed, I accordingly took my leave. But, not before
the astute lady of the world had contrived to impress me with the
consideration that Mrs Clyde moved in a very different circle to that
of Mr Lorton; and, that, if I had the assurance and audacity to aspire
to the hand of "her daughter," I need not nurse the sweet belief that
_she_ would lend a favourable ear to my suit. I must, in that case, be
prepared to wage a war a outrance, in which there