been the tenor of his message, and Miss Le Smyrger had delivered it
faithfully. "He does not mean it," Patience had said with her stern
voice. "Indeed he does, my dear. You may be sure he is in earnest,"
Miss Le Smyrger had replied; "and there is not an honester man in these
parts."

"Tell him," said Patience, not attending to the latter portion of her
friend's last speech, "that it cannot be--make him understand, you
know--and tell him also that the matter shall be thought of no more."
The matter had, at any rate, been spoken of no more, but the young
farmer still remained a bachelor, and Helpholme still wanted a
mistress. But all this came back upon the parson's mind when his
daughter told him that she was about to leave him.

"Yes, dearest," she said; and as she spoke she now knelt at his knees.
"I have been asked in marriage, and I have given myself away."

"Well, my love, if you will be happy--"

"I hope I shall; I think I shall. But you, papa?"

"You will not be far from us."

"Oh, yes; in London."

"In London?"

"Captain Broughton lives in London generally."

"And has Captain Broughton asked you to marry him?"