'His heart is pre-engaged,' replied Mr. Coxe. 'Mine was free as air
till I saw her.'

'Would it tend to cure your--well! passion, we'll say--if she wore blue
spectacles at meal-times? I observe you dwell much on the beauty of her
eyes.'

'You are ridiculing my feelings, Mr. Gibson. Do you forget that you
yourself were young once?'

'Poor Jeanie' rose before Mr. Gibson's eyes; and he felt a little
rebuked.

'Come, Mr. Coxe, let us see if we can't make a bargain,' said he, after
a minute or so of silence. 'You have done a really wrong thing, and I
hope you are convinced of it in your heart, or that you will be when
the heat of this discussion is over, and you come to think a little
about it. But I won't lose all respect for your father's son. If you
will give me your word that, as long as you remain a member of my
family--pupil, apprentice, what you will--you won't again try to
disclose your passion--you see, I am careful to take your view of what
I should call a mere fancy--by word or writing, looks or acts, in any
manner whatever, to my daughter, or to talk about your feelings to any
one else, you shall remain here. If you cannot give me your word, I
must follow out the course I named, and write to your father's agent.'

Mr. Coxe stood irresolute.

'Mr. Wynne knows all I feel for Miss Gibson, sir. He and I have no
secrets from each other.'