The young man laughed.
"Now, Tom," said she, a little disappointed, "don't you think so?"
"There's a good chance of it, certainly," he replied. "You can but try it."
"Then why do you laugh," she continued, still dissatisfied.
"Only to see what spiteful creatures you women are," he continued, smiling. "To see the pains you'll take to put down a girl you don't happen to fancy."
"Surely, you yourself, Tom," commenced Mrs. Castleton, seriously, and "I am sure, Tom," chimed in Emma, in the same breath, "you have always said—"and then they both poured forth such a torrent of reminiscences and good reasons for wishing to prevent the match, that he was glad to cry for mercy, and ended by saying seriously,
"I am sure I hope you may succeed."
CHAPTER II.
"Harry," said Mrs. Castleton, in her prettiest and most winning manner, "I am going to call on your friend, Miss Dawson, and invite her for Thursday evening."
Harry looked up very much astonished, hardly knowing whether to be pleased or not, and said,