"Lucy has been telling us all about you; but we certainly expected, from what you had gone through, that you were older." "I am two or three years older than she is, Miss Kingston, and I have gone through so much in the last three years that I feel older than I am.

She has told you, I hope, that she has been good enough to promise to be my wife some day ?" "Yes, she has told us that, Mr.Wingfield; and although we don't know you personally, we feel sure--my sister Ada and I--from what she has told us of your behavior while you have been together, that you are an honorable gentleman, and we hope and believe that you will make her happy." "I will do my best to do so," Vincent said earnestly.

"As to my circumstances, I shall, in another year, come into possession of estates sufficient to keep her in every comfort." "I have no doubt that that is all satisfactory, Mr.Wingfield, and that her father will give his hearty approval when he hears all the circumstances of the case.

Now, if you will go into the next room, Mr.
Wingfield, I will call her down"-- for Lucy had run upstairs when she heard Vincent knock.

"I dare say you will like a quiet talk together," she added, smiling, "for she tells me you have never been alone together since you started." Lucy required several calls before she came down.