“‘Thank you, Edward; are you willing to promise me that the marriage shall be deferred until the end of two years from this date?’
“‘Indeed, Mr. Rockland, I should like very much to be able to comply with your request, but why not let the marriage be solemnized when I return from Philadelphia in the spring?’
“‘Lottie would be too young to marry then.’
“‘Grant papa’s request, Eddie,’ said Lottie; ‘I am very willing to put it off indefinitely, if you can be with me often.’
“That settled the question; so it was agreed that Lottie should be my wife at the end of two years.
“‘Come,’ said Lottie, as she took my arm, and looking up at me, her sweet little mouth puckered up in a comical shape; ‘we’ll go to the study now, as everything has been settled between you and papa; I want to show you some new flowers that I have secured; oh, they are such nice ones! They flourish better in the fall season than they do in the spring.’
“She led me through her flower garden, stopping occasionally to point out the different plants, giving a graphic description of their nature and the manner of their culture; and when we came near the summer-house the old parrot began to chatter:
“‘Ah, ha! Lottie! here we come—here we come!’
“‘Can’t he say anything but that, Lottie?’ I inquired.
“‘Oh, yes, he can talk a great deal when he takes a notion. Did you know I had a letter from Viola, Eddie?’