will beg of you to moderate your voice. It is quite needless to rowt at
a gentleman in the same chamber with yourself and lending you his best
attention."

"Why, very true," says he, with an immediate change. "And you must
excuse the agitations of a parent."

"I understand you then," I continued--"for I will take no note of your
other alternative, which perhaps it was a pity you let fall--I
understand you rather to offer me encouragement in case I should desire
to apply for your daughter's hand?"

"It is not possible to express my meaning better," said he, "and I see
we shall do well together."

"That remains to be yet seen," said I. "But so much I need make no
secret of, that I bear the lady you refer to the most tender affection,
and I could not fancy, even in a dream, a better fortune than to get
her."

"I was sure of it, I felt certain of you, David," he cried, and reached
out his hand to me.

I put it by. "You go too fast, Mr. Drummond," said I. "There are
conditions to be made; and there is a difficulty in the path, which I
see not entirely how we shall come over. I have told you that, upon my
side, there is no objection to the marriage, but I have good reason to
believe there will be much on the young lady's."

"This is all beside the mark," says he. "I will engage for her