discovered in the waist, and did not heed them. Still she was
listening, and she said, "Yes--go on. You were looking beautifully
that night. Did you consent to marry him?"

"Unhappily, I did," returned Miss Porter, "for I had made myself
believe that I loved him. I wished that he was older, to be sure, but
he said he would wait until he was of age. This plan, however, did not
suit his ambitious sister. She knew I intended asking my father's
approval, and from what she heard of him she feared he would never
consent to my marrying a poor student, and she urged an immediate
union. But I persisted in writing to my father, who answered
immediately, forbidding me to think of young Dunlap, ordering me to go
home, and saying he always intended me for John Castlewell, a neighbor
of ours--a millionaire--a _booby_--a _fool_--whom I hated as I did
poison.

"Not long after the receipt of this letter I was surprised by the
sudden appearance of Uncle Bertram, who had come at my father's
request to take me home. This roused me at once. My father was a
tyrant, I said, and I would let him know I could do as I pleased. In
my excitement, I fancied I could not exist a moment without Richard
Dunlap, while he declared that life would be a blank for him if passed
away from me. At this opportune moment Mrs. Le Vert suggested that we
be married immediately--that very night. Uncle Bertram fortunately was
a clergyman, and could officiate as well as any other. In justice to
Richard, I will say that he hesitated longer than I did--but he was
persuaded at last, as was Uncle Bertram, and with no other witness
than Mrs. Le Vert and a white woman who lived with her as half
waiting-maid and half companion, we were married."