Indeed, Harry talked to him quite as though they two were on an equality together; and, before they had parted, Mr.Burton was not sure that Harry did not patronize him.

He asked the young man, however, to join them at their early dinner, and then introduced him to Mrs.Burton, and to their youngest daughter, the only child who was still living with them.

"All my other girls are married, Mr.Clavering; and all of them married to men connected with my own profession." The color came slightly to Florence Burton's cheeks as she heard her father's words, and Harry asked himself whether the old man expected that he should go through the same ordeal; but Mr.Burton himself was quite unaware that he had said anything wrong, and then went on to speak of the successes of his sons.

"But they began early, Mr.
Clavering; and worked hard--very hard indeed." He was a good, kindly, garrulous old man; but Harry began to doubt whether he would learn much at Stratton.

It was, however, too late to think of that now, and everything was fixed.
Harry, when he looked at Florence Burton, at once declared to himself that she was plain.