"Take Mrs. Marston!" exclaimed Rachel, determined to surmount all difficulties; "take Mrs. Marston; she's just the one!"
"Oh, no!" replied her uncle, in a very decided tone; "she wouldn't do at all; she's too old. I've been thinking about it for some time; you want a young person, and so I am going to get married."
"O Uncle Robert!" cried Rachel, jumping up, and taking hold of his arm; "don't get married! please don't! I'd rather never go to Europe as long as I live, than to have you do that!"
"I am sure you are very kind indeed," replied her uncle, "to give up your pleasure on my account; but really I don't see as I can very well help being married now, for I've asked the lady, and she said yes."
"O uncle! uncle! to think of your getting married just for the sake of having some one to go to Europe with me! It's dreadful!"
"Yes, dear, I think it would be, if that were the case; but to tell you the truth I am very much in love with the lady myself."
"Then I shall hate her!" exclaimed Rachel, dropping her uncle's arm,—"I know I shall hate her!"
Marion had been sitting perfectly quiet during this conversation, with her back turned towards the speaker; she now rose, and attempted to pass by Dr. Drayton into the parlor; but he caught her with both hands, and turned her round towards his niece, saying, as he did so, "Allow me, Rachel, to introduce you to your future aunt; if you don't love her for my sake, try to for her own; she's worth it."
Rachel stood in speechless astonishment, and Marion, also, could not utter a word.
"This is a pretty state of things, I must say," said the doctor. "Rachel, won't you kiss your Aunt Marion?"