engagement between us. Our engagement was made with the full and
cordial approval of my uncle, who did not share the prejudice
entertained by many persons against marriages between cousins. He
stipulated, however, that our marriage should be deferred until I had
seen somewhat more of the world, and until we had both reached an age
when we might reasonably be presumed to know our own minds. He was
also, not unnaturally, desirous that before taking upon myself the
responsibility of marriage I should give some evidence of my ability to
provide for a wife, and for other contingencies usually consequent upon
matrimony. He made no secret of his intention to divide his property
between Alice and myself at his death; and the fact that no actual
division would be necessary in the event of our marriage with each
other was doubtless one reason for his ready acquiescence in our
engagement. He was, however, of a vigorous constitution, strictly
regular and methodical in all his habits, and likely to live to an
advanced age. He could hardly be called parsimonious, but, like most
men who have successfully fought their own way through life, he was
rather fond of authority, and little disposed to divest himself of his
wealth until he should have no further occasion for it. He expressed
his willingness to establish me in business, either in Toronto or
elsewhere, and to give me the benefit of his experience in all
mercantile transactions.

When matters had reached this pass I had just completed my twenty-first
year, my cousin being three years younger. Since my uncle's retirement
I had engaged in one or two little speculations on my own account,
which had turned out fairly successful, but I had not devoted
myself to any regular or fixed pursuit. Before any definite
arrangements had been concluded as to the course of my future life, a
circumstance occurred which seemed to open a way for me to turn to good