Still, if you had thus spoken a few weeks ago, I should not have
replied very favourably to your question. But now that I have seen so
much of you, my answer is this: If you lose your election,--if you
don't come into Parliament at all, you have my good-wishes all the
same. If you win my daughter's heart, there is no man on whom I would
more willingly bestow her hand. There she is, by herself too, in the
garden. Go and talk to her."

Gordon hesitated. He knew too well that he had not won her heart,
though he had no suspicion that it was given to another. And he was
much too clever not to know also how much he hazards who, in affairs
of courtship, is premature.

"Ah!" he said, "I cannot express my gratitude for words so generous,
encouragement so cheering. But I have never yet dared to utter to
Miss Travers a word that would prepare her even to harbour a thought
of me as a suitor. And I scarcely think I should have the courage to
go through this election with the grief of her rejection on my heart."

"Well, go in and win the election first; meanwhile, at all events,
take leave of Cecilia."

Gordon left his friend, and joined Miss Travers, resolved not indeed
to risk a formal declaration, but to sound his way to his chances of
acceptance.

The interview was very brief. He did sound his way skilfully, and
felt it very unsafe for his footsteps. The advantage of having gained
the approval of the father was too great to be lost altogether, by one
of those decided answers on the part of the daughter which allow of no