aunt. Would you mind going downstairs and waiting for us? Tell
them we shall be ready for dinner in ten minutes.' Then Emily
passed out of the room, and Mrs Roby assumed a grave demeanour.
'The man we are speaking of has been to me and has made an offer
for Emily.' As he said this he looked anxiously into his sister-
in-law's face, in order that he might tell from that how far she
favoured the idea of such a marriage,--and he thought that he
perceived at once, that she was not averse to it. 'You know it
is quite out of the question,' he continued.

'I don't know why it should be out of the question. But of
course your opinion would have great weight with Emily.'

'Great weight! Well;--I should hope so. If not, I do not know
whose opinion is to have weight. In the first place, the man is
a foreigner.'

'Oh, no;--he is English. But if he were a foreigner many
English girls marry foreigners.'

'My daughter shall not;--not with my permission. You have not
encouraged her, I hope.'

'I have not interfered at all,' said Mrs Roby. But this was a
lie. Mrs Roby had interfered. Mrs Roby, in discussing the
merits and character of the lover to the young lady, had always
lent herself to the lover's aid,--and had condescended to accept
from the lover various presents which she could hardly have taken
had she been hostile to him.