"That is what I do not know," replied Marvel; "but, if I was to ask
her, she would ask you, I am sure, whether you would like me for a
son-in-law."

"At this rate, we shall never get forwards," said Harrison. "Go you back
to Miss Milly, and send my Lucy here to me."

We shall not tell how Lucy picked up the flowers, which had been her
lover's grand resource; nor how often she blushed upon the occasion: she
acknowledged that she thought Mr. Marvel _very agreeable_, but that she
was afraid to marry a person who had so little steadiness. That she had
heard of a great number of schemes, undertaken by him, which had failed;
or which he had given up as hastily as he had begun them. "Besides,"
said she, "may be he might change his mind about me as well as about
other things; for I've heard from my cousin Milly--I've heard--that--he
was in love, not very long since, with an actress in York. Do you think
this is all true?"

"Yes, I know it is all true," said Mr. Harrison, "for he told me so
himself. He is an honest, open-hearted young man; but I think as you do,
child, that we cannot be sure of his steadiness."

When Marvel heard from Mr. Harrison the result of this conversation,
he was inspired with the strongest desire to convince Lucy that he was
capable of perseverance. To the astonishment of all who knew him, or who
thought that they knew him, he settled steadily to business; and, for a
whole twelvemonth, no one heard him speak of any new scheme. At the end
of this time he renewed his proposal to Lucy; saying that he hoped she
would now have some dependence upon his constancy to her, since she had