That's what I says, sir; and that's what I'm here for.' "He paused, and wiped his brow with a green cotton handkerchief.

I prayed him to proceed.
"It appeared that the worthy fellow wanted to marry, but could not make up his mind _whom_ he wanted to marry.

He had his eye--so he expressed it--upon two young women, and they, he had reason to believe, regarded him in return with more than usual favour.

His difficulty was to decide which of the two--both of them excellent and deserving young persons--would make him the best wife.

The one, Juliana, the only daughter of a retired sea-captain, he described as a winsome lassie.