She spoke lightly and laughingly of Sir Pitt's proposal, ridiculed it as the foolish fancy of an old man; and her eyes filled with tears, and Briggs's heart with unutterable pangs of defeat, as she said she desired no other lot than to remain for ever with her dear benefactress.

"My dear little creature," the old lady said, "I don't intend to let you stir for years, that you may depend upon it.

As for going back to that odious brother of mine after what has passed, it is out of the question.

Here you stay with me and Briggs.

Briggs wants to go to see her relations very often.