"I'm very glad you do, my dear. And I hope you will meditate much upon it, and it may lead you to change your course in regard to Dr. Grimshaw."
"Mimmy!" she said, with a wild laugh, "is there a deeper pit in perdition than that to which you urge me now?"
* * * * *
Fortune certainly favored the lovers that day; for when Thurston reached home in the evening, his grandfather said to him:
"Well, Mr. Jackanapes, since you are to sail from the port of Baltimore, I think it altogether best that you should take a private conveyance, and go by way of Washington."
"That will be a very lonesome manner of traveling, sir," answered the young man, demurely.
"It will be a very cheap one, you mean, and, therefore, will not befit you, Sir Millionaire! It will cost nothing, and, therefore, lose its only charm for you, my Lord Spendthrift," cried the miser, sharply.
"On the contrary, sir, I only object to the loneliness of the long journey."
"No one to chatter to, eh, Mr. Magpie! Well, it need not be so! There's Nace Grimshaw, and his set—extravagant fools!—going up to the city to flaunt among the fashionables. You can go as they go, and chatter to the other monkey, Jacquelina—and make Old Nace mad with jealousy, so that he shall go and hang himself, and leave you the widow and her fortune! Come! is there mischief enough to amuse you? But I know you won't do it! I know it! I know it! I know it! just because I wish you to!"
"What, sir? drive Dr. Grimshaw to hang himself?"