moment Marvel espied him he quitted the ladies.

"I've something to say to you, Mr. Harrison. I should be glad to speak a
few words to you in private, if you please," cried he, seizing his arm,
and leading him down a by-lane.

Mr. Harrison was all attention; but Marvel began to gather primroses,
instead of speaking.

"Well," said Mr. Harrison, "did you bring me here to see you gather
primroses?"

After smelling the flowers twenty times, and placing them in twenty
different forms, Marvel at last threw them on the bank, and, with a
sudden effort, exclaimed, "You have a daughter, Mr. James Harrison."

"I know I have; and I thank God for it."

"So you have reason to do; for a more lovely girl and a better, in my
opinion, never existed."

"One must not praise one's own, or I should agree with you," said the
proud father.

Again there was silence. And again Marvel picked up his primroses.

"In short," said he, "Mr. Harrison, would you like me for a son-in-law?"

"Would Lucy like you for a husband? I must know that first," said the
good father.