———
“So you are really going to be married, Charles?”
“Yes, uncle; and I hope you will agree with me in thinking that I have made a very prudent choice.”
“That remains to be seen yet,” said Mr. Waterton. “In the first place, who is the lady?”
“Miss Laura Tarleton.”
“I know her name well enough, for you have scarcely uttered any other one these six weeks,” was the crusty reply; “but I want to know something of her family.”
“Her father was a southern merchant, and died four or five years since, leaving only two daughters to inherit his large estate; one of these daughters married about two years since, and is now in Europe; the other I hope to introduce to your affections as my wife.”
“Has she no mother?”
“Her mother died while she was yet very young.”
“Where was she educated?”