Someone of a nobler character, and more worthy altogether than anyone I have ever seen here, must rise up, before I give my consent.

In the time to come, I shall have a wary eye on all admirers; and shall exact a great deal from the successful one, I assure you.' We had gone on, so far, in a mixture of confidential jest and earnest, that had long grown naturally out of our familiar relations, begun as mere children.

But Agnes, now suddenly lifting up her eyes to mine, and speaking in a different manner, said: 'Trotwood, there is something that I want to ask you, and that I may not have another opportunity of asking for a long time, perhaps--something I would ask, I think, of no one else.

Have you observed any gradual alteration in Papa ?' I had observed it, and had often wondered whether she had too.

I must have shown as much, now, in my face; for her eyes were in a moment cast down, and I saw tears in them.
'Tell me what it is,' she said, in a low voice.
'I think--shall I be quite plain, Agnes, liking him so much ?' 'Yes,' she said.
'I think he does himself no good by the habit that has increased upon him since I first came here.