my niece's figure?"

"Oh, come! there can't be any doubt about _that!_ Any man, with eyes in
his head, can see it's the loveliest figure in the world."

Sir Patrick laughed softly, and crossed his legs again.

"My good fellow, of course it is! The loveliest figure in the world
is the commonest thing in the world. At a rough guess, there are forty
ladies at this lawn-party. Every one of them possesses a beautiful
figure. It varies in price; and when it's particularly seductive you may
swear it comes from Paris. Why, how you stare! When I asked you what you
thought of my niece's figure, I meant--how much of it comes from Nature,
and how much of it comes from the Shop? I don't know, mind! Do you?"

"I'll take my oath to every inch of it!"

"Shop?"

"Nature!"

Sir Patrick rose to his feet; his satirical humor was silenced at last.

"If ever I have a son," he thought to himself, "that son shall go
to sea!" He took Arnold's arm, as a preliminary to putting an end to
Arnold's suspense. "If I _can_ be serious about any thing," he resumed,
"it's time to be serious with you. I am convinced of the sincerity of
your attachment. All I know of you is in your favor, and your birth and
position are beyond dispute. If you have Blanche's consent, you have
mine." Arnold attempted to express his gratitude. Sir Patrick, declining