I couldn't bear to think that no young man should take a fancy to a girl of mine.
But Flo's not twenty yet, and Carry, who was the oldest to go, wasn't four-and-twenty when Scarness took her." Thereupon the old lady put her handkerchief to the corner of her eyes, and wept gently.
"Flo isn't gone yet," said Mr.Burton.
"But I hope, B., it's not to be a long engagement.

I don't like long engagements.

It ain't good--not for the girl; it ain't, indeed." "We were engaged for seven years." "People weren't so much in a hurry then at anything; but I ain't sure it was very good for me.

And though we weren't just married, we were living next door and saw each other.

What'll come to Flo if she's to be here and he's to be up in London, pleasuring himself ?" "Flo must bear it as other girls do," said the father, as he got up from his chair.
"I think he's a good young man; I think he is," said the mother.