186. Answer to No. 184 (Unfavorable).
O——, May 10, 19—.
Dear Mr. Redfield:—
Believe me, I am deeply grieved at the answer I am obliged to give you; but I have no alternative than to write as I am now doing. My father will not for a moment hear of our engagement, and whatever my own feelings may be, you would not, I am sure, wish me to disobey him. He considers a long engagement would be most imprudent on our part; he says you may not be in the same mind two years hence, and that your prospects are too uncertain to render such a step advisable.
All this sounds cold and hard; but, coming from him, it must be said. I dare not hold out a hope that, if we are both free "two years hence," you might expect a very different answer, because this might appear in the light of a secret understanding; still, I do not think that I shall easily forget you, or stop thinking of you, or cease to take a warm interest in all that concerns you. Dear Mr. Redfield, good-bye, forgive me for the disappointment I am compelled to inflict, think of me kindly, and believe me,
Yours very sincerely,
Mable Southgate.
187. Marriage Proposal from a Middle-aged Gentleman to a Young Lady.
B——, January 15, 19—.