"Ay," continued Wright, "you see by this how many things may pass before
a man's eyes and ears, when he is in love, without his seeing or hearing
them. Why, man, I was in the milliner's shop just now, standing in the
corner behind the door; but you could see nothing but your charming Miss
Barton."

"I beg your pardon for being so blind," said Marvel, laughing; "but you
are too good-natured to take offence; though you don't know what it is
to be in love."

"There you are mistaken; for I am as much in love as yourself at this
instant."

"Then I'm undone," cried Marvel, turning as pale as death.

"Why so?" said Wright; "will you allow nobody, man, to be in love but
yourself? I don't see why I have not as good a right to fall in love as
you have."

"To be sure you have," said Marvel, trying to recover himself; "and I
can't say but what you deal fairly by me, to tell me so honestly at
once. More fool I to send for you. I might have foreseen this, blockhead
as I am! but you deal fairly by me, Wright: so I cannot complain, and
will not, happen what may. Let him who can win her, wear her. We start
fair; for though I have had the advantage of a first acquaintance, you
are much the handsomer man of the two; and that goes for a great deal
with some ladies, though not perhaps with Alicia Barton."

"There, perhaps, you may find yourself mistaken," replied Wright, with a