highly unaccountable; so, if you thought anything else--"

"What else should I expect from a picker-up of old words, brother?
Bah! I dislike a picker-up of old words worse than a picker-up of
old rags."

"Don't be angry, Ursula, I feel a great interest in you; you are
very handsome, and very clever; indeed, with your beauty and
cleverness, I only wonder that you have not long since been
married."

"You do, do you, brother?"

"Yes. However, keep up your spirits, Ursula, you are not much past
the prime of youth, so--"

"Not much past the prime of youth! Don't be uncivil, brother, I
was only twenty-two last month."

"Don't be offended, Ursula, but twenty-two is twenty-two, or, I
should rather say, that twenty-two in a woman is more than twenty-
six in a man. You are still very beautiful, but I advise you to
accept the first offer that's made to you."

"Thank you, brother, but your advice comes rather late; I accepted
the first offer that was made me five years ago."

"You married five years ago, Ursula! is it possible?"

"Quite possible, brother, I assure you."