The Doctor thought it a favourable opportunity to tell the story of the seven suitors, and was especially panegyrical on Harry Hedgerow, observing, that if the maxim Noscitur à sociis might be reversed, and a man's companions judged by himself, it would be a sufficient recommendation of the other six; whom, moreover, the result of his inquiries had given him ample reason to think well of. Mr. Falconer received with pleasure at Christmas, a communication which at the Midsummer preceding, would have given him infinite pain. It struck him all at once, that, as he had dined so ill, he would have some partridges for supper, his larder being always well stocked with game. They were presented accordingly, after the usual music in the drawingroom, and the Doctor, though he had dined well, considered himself bound in courtesy to assist in their disposal; when recollecting how he had wound up the night of the ball, he volunteered to brew a bowl of punch, over which they sate till a late hour, discoursing of many things, but chiefly of Morgana.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

*Η σοφός, ἡ σοφὸς ἦν,

Ὃς πρῶτος ἐν γνώμα τόδ' ἐβάστασε,

Καὶ γλώσσα διεμυθολόγησεν,

Ως τὸ κηδεῦσαι καθ ̓ ἑαυτὸν ἀριστεύει μακρῷ
Καὶ μήτε τῶν πλούτῳ διαθρυπτομένων,

Μήτε τῶν γέννα μεγαλυνομένων,

*Οντα χερνήταν ἐραστεῦσαι γάμων.

ESCHYLUS: Prometheus.

Oh! wise was he, the first who taught
This lesson of observant thought,
That equal fates alone may dress
The bowers of nuptial happiness;
That never, where ancestral pride
Inflames, or affluence rolls its tide,
Should love's ill-omened bonds entwine
The offspring of an humbler line.

M

R. FALCONER, the next morning, after the Doctor had set out on his return walk, departed from his usual practice of not seeing one of the sisters alone, and requested that Dorothy would come to him in the drawing-room. She appeared before him, blushing and trembling.

'Sit down,' he said, dear Dorothy; I have something to say to you and your sisters; but I have reasons for saying it first to you. It is pro

TJ

bable, at any rate possible, that I shall very soon marry, and perhaps, in that case, you may be disposed to do the same. And I am told, that one of the best young men I have ever known is dying for love of you.'

'He is a good young man, that is certain,' said Dorothy; then becoming suddenly conscious of how much she had undesignedly admitted, she blushed deeper than before. And by way of mending the matter, she said, 'but I am not dying for love of him.'

'I dare say you are not,' said Mr. Falconer; 'you have no cause to be so, as you are sure of him, and only your consent is wanting.'

'And yours,' said Dorothy, and that of my sisters; especially my elder sisters; indeed, they ought to set the example.'

'I am not sure of that,' said Mr. Falconer. So far, if I understand rightly, they have followed yours. It was your lover's indefatigable devotion that brought together suitors to them all. As to my consent, that you shall certainly have. So the next time you see Master Harry, send him to me.'

'He is here now,' said Dorothy.

'Then ask him to come in,' said Mr. Fal

coner.

And Dorothy retired in some confusion. But her lips could not contradict her heart. Harry appeared.

MR. FALCONER.

So, Harry, you have been making love in my house, without asking my leave.

HARRY HEDGEROW.

I couldn't help making love, sir; and I didn't ask your leave, because I thought I shouldn't get it.

MR. FALCONER.

Candid, as usual, Harry. But do you think Dorothy would make a good farmer's wife?

HARRY HEDGEROW.

I think, sir, she is so good, and so clever, and so ready and willing to turn her hand to anything, that she would be a fit wife for anybody, from a lord downwards. But it may be most for her own happiness to keep in the class in which she was born.

MR. FALCONER.

She is not very pretty, you know.

Not pretty, sir!

who is.

HARRY HEDGEROW.

If she isn't a beauty, I don't know

MR. FALCONER.

Well, no doubt she is a handsome girl.

HARRY HEDGEROW.

Handsome is not the thing, sir. She's beautiful.

MR. FALCONER.

Well, Harry, she is beautiful, if that will please

you.

HARRY HEDGEROW.

It does please me, sir. I ought to have known you were joking when you said she was not pretty.

MR. FALCONER.

But, you know, she has no fortune.

HARRY HEDGEROW.

I don't want fortune. I want her, and nothing else, and nobody else.

MR. FALCONER.

But I cannot consent to her marrying without a fortune of her own.

HARRY HEDGEROW.

Father

Why, then, I'll give her one beforehand. has saved some money, and she shall have that. We'll settle it on her, as the lawyers say.

MR. FALCONER.

You are a thoroughly good fellow, Harry, and I really wish Dorothy joy of her choice; but that is not what I meant. She must bring you a fortune, not take one from you; and you must not refuse it.

Harry repeated that he did not want fortune; and Mr. Falconer repeated that, so far as depended on him, he should not have Dorothy without one. It was not an arduous matter to bring to an amicable settlement.

The affair of Harry and Dorothy being thus satisfactorily arranged, the other six were adjusted with little difficulty; and Mr. Falconer returned with a light heart to the Grange, where he presented himself at dinner on the twenty-seventh day of his probation.