entoinyourpossession?orwouldthesightofitbringrecollescalculatedtoeeanddistress?”

    Henowfurtivelyraisedhiseyes:heglame,irresolute,disturbed:heagainsurveyedthepicture.

    “ThatIshouldliketohaveitiscertaiheritwouldbejudiciousorwiseisanotherquestion.”

    SinceIhadascertaihatRosamondreallypreferredhim,andthatherfatherwasnotlikelytoopposethematch,I—lessexaltedinmyviewsthanSt.John—hadbeenstronglydisposedinmyowoadvocatetheirunion.Itseemedtomethat,shouldhebeethepossessorofMr.Oliver’slargefortune,hemightdoasmuchgoodwithitasifhewentandlaidhisgeniusouttowither,andhisstrengthtowaste,uropicalsun.WiththispersuasionInowanswered—

    “AsfarasIsee,itwouldbewiserandmorejudiciousifyouweretotaketoyourselftheinalatonce.”

    Bythistimehehadsatdown:hehadlaidthepictureoablebeforehim,andwithhisbrowsupportedonbothhands,hungfondlyoverit.Idisedhewasherangrynorshockedatmyaudacity.Isaweventhattobethusfranklyaddressedonasubjecthehaddeemedunapproachable—tohearitthusfreelyhandled—wasbeginningtobefeltbyhimasanewpleasure—anunhoped-forrelief.Reservedpeopleoftenreallyhefrankdiscussionoftheirsesandgriefsmorethantheexpahester-seemingstoicishumanafterall;andto“burst”withboldnessandgood-willinto“thesilentsea”oftheirsoulsisoftentoferohefirstofobligations.

    “Shelikesyou,Iamsure,”saidI,asIstoodbehindhischair,“aherrespeoreover,sheisasweetgirl—ratherthoughtless;butyouwouldhavesuffitthoughtforbothyourselfandher.Yououghttomarryher.”

    “Doesshelikeme?”heasked.

    “Certainly;betterthansheli