"Have you told Parson John?" said Mary.
"Oh, yes."
"And what does he say?"
"Just what a crabbed, crafty, selfish old bachelor of seventy would be sure to say."
"You mean that he has told you to give up all idea of comforting yourself with a wife."
"Just that."
"And Aunt Sarah has been saying exactly the same to me. You can't think how eloquent Aunt Sarah has been. And her energy has quite surprised me."
"I don't think Aunt Sarah was ever much of a friend of mine," said the Captain.
"Not in the way of matrimony; in other respects she approves of you highly, and is rather proud of you as a Marrable. If you were only heir to the title, or something of that kind, she would think you the finest fellow going."
"I wish I could gratify her, with all my heart."