She had declared to Henrietta 'that Carbury Hall was very dull.' But then there had come a circumstance which altogether changed her opinions as to Carbury Hall, and its proprietor.

The proprietor after a few weeks followed them up to London, and made a most matter-of-fact offer to the mother for the daughter's hand.

He was at that time thirty-six, and Henrietta was not yet twenty.

He was very cool;--some might have thought him phlegmatic in his love-making.

Henrietta declared to her mother that she had not in the least expected it.