"Did nothing more pass between you?"
"Not much; when we were getting near the hotel he asked me to forgive what he had said and forget it."
"And what was your reply to this?"
"Mamma, I told him there was nothing to forgive."
"Then of course he understands that you would like him to attend to your every wish for your whole life—is that it, Mary?"
"Yes, mamma," in smothered tones.
"But you say this Mr. Henry Halford did not pay you more attentions than to other ladies. What has made my daughter so easily won?"
"O mamma!" and Mary raised her head now and looked fearlessly at her mother, "Mr. Henry Halford has not tried to win me. I should have told papa at once if he had asked me to be his wife; and I hope he wont now, for I am sure I should learn to love him if he did. I suppose it is not right to marry people who have no money, but, mamma, I could not marry any man, if he were the richest in the world, unless he were as clever and intellectual as Henry Halford, and I'm sure that's not very likely."
Mrs. Armstrong sighed. There was no doubt now as the state of her daughter's affections, or how it would end!
The appearance of the boys at the drawing-room window, and the sound of Mr. Armstrong's footsteps, roused mother and daughter. Mary, however, had scarcely reached the door, for she felt unable to meet him, when her father entered, and, as she tried to pass, caught her in his arms and kissed her fondly. Then he advanced to his wife and apologised for his roughness.