"I never was in the way of getting married myself, but I can easily understand that." "I've been the luckiest fellow in the world in finding such a girl as your niece--" Whereupon the squire bowed, intending to make a little courteous declaration that the luck in the matter was on the side of the Dales.

"I know that," continued Crosbie.

"She is exactly everything that a girl ought to be." "She is a good girl," said Bernard.
"Yes; I think she is," said the squire.
"But it seems to me," said Crosbie, finding that it was necessary to dash at once headlong into the water, "that something ought to be said as to my means of supporting her properly." Then he paused for a moment, expecting that the squire would speak.
But the squire sat perfectly still, looking intently at the empty fireplace and saying nothing.

"Of supporting her," continued Crosbie, "with all those comforts to which she has been accustomed." "She has never been used to expense," said the squire.

"Her mother, as you doubtless know, is not a rich woman." "But living here, Lily has had great advantages,--a horse to ride, and all that sort of thing." "I don't suppose she expects a horse in the park," said the squire, with a very perceptible touch of sarcasm in his voice.
"I hope not," said Crosbie.
"I believe she has had the use of one of the ponies here sometimes, but I hope that has not made her extravagant in her ideas.