all."

"And no doubt, after you are married, this Mr. Nowell will make his
appearance some day, and be a burden upon you."

"I am not afraid of that. And now, Belle, as this is a subject upon which
we don't seem very likely to agree, I think we had better drop it. I
considered it only right to tell you of my engagement."

On this his sister softened a little, and promised Gilbert that she would
do her best to be kind to Miss Nowell.

"You won't be married for some time to come, of course," she said.

"I don't know about that, Belle. There is nothing to prevent a speedy
marriage."

"O, surely you will wait a twelvemonth, at least. You have known Marian
Nowell such a short time. You ought to put her to the test in some manner
before you make her your wife."

"I have no occasion to put her to any kind of test. I have a most
profound and perfect belief in her goodness."

"Why, Gilbert, this is utter infatuation--about a girl whom you have only
known a little more than three weeks!"

It does seem difficult for a matter-of-fact, reasonable matron, whose
romantic experiences are things of the remote past, to understand this
sudden trust in, and all-absorbing love for, an acquaintance of a brief