"Really, Ned, that is decidedly cool. How long do you propose to make me wait for it?"
"Help yourself, Doctor. It's there among the papers," said Edward, lighting a cigar.
Occasionally, Edward glanced over the top of his newspaper to observe the animated countenance of his friend, as he perused the lines traced by the hand of love.
Having thus marked his progress to the end, he enquired, "Now, Doctor, what says my little sister?"
"She says, Ned, 'this is now the middle of Autumn.'"
"O, is that all?"
"Well, the next in order is,'and mother is expecting Edward home soon.'"
"That is just what I have been expecting to hear for a week past, Doctor. You know I have made my success with Miss De Wolf the condition on which I should be induced to locate here. Well, I'm pretty sure of her, and I have at length determined to hang out my shingle, and go to work. I can see no way but to persuade mother and Louise to come out here and live with us."
"Then, you are really engaged to Miss De Wolf, Ned?"
"Why, no, not exactly. I doubt whether we shall ever, really, be formally engaged. I wouldn't be surprised if she told me, an hour before our marriage, that she didn't intend to take me; but then, I know she will. Poor old daddy has frequently volunteered the information that the Pet will never marry a man, who has been guilty of drinking a glass of lager beer. He says she is bitterly opposed to anything that will 'toxicate, but I suspect the experience she has had with her father has put those ultra notions into her head."