whether she ought to laugh.

'And what do you think of Sir Guy?'

'May he only be worthy of his dog!' replied Charles.

'Ah!' said Laura, 'many men are neither worthy of their wives, nor of
their dogs.'

'Dr. Henley, I suppose, is the foundation of that aphorism,' said
Charles.

'If Margaret Morville could marry him, she could hardly be too worthy,'
said Laura. 'Think of throwing away Philip's whole soul!'

'0 Laura, she could not lose that,' said Amabel.

Laura looked as if she knew more; but at that moment, both her father
and mother entered, the former rubbing his hands, as he always did when
much pleased, and sending his voice before him, as he exclaimed, 'Well,
Charlie, well, young ladies, is not he a fine fellow--eh?'

'Rather under-sized,' said Charles.

'Eh? He'll grow. He is not eighteen, you know; plenty of time; a very
good height; you can't expect every one to be as tall as Philip; but
he's a capital fellow. And how have you been?--any pain?'

'Hem--rather,' said Charles, shortly, for he hated answering kind
inquiries, when out of humour.