turn came, she said, "Your papa? Of course you have communicated this
step to him?"

Alfred looked a little confused, and said, "No: he left for London two
days ago, as it happens."

"That is unfortunate," said Mrs. Dodd. "Your best plan would be to write
to him at once. I need hardly tell you that we shall enter no family
without an invitation from its head."

Alfred replied that he was well aware of that, and that he knew his
father, and could answer for him. "No doubt," said Mrs. Dodd, "but, as a
matter of reasonable form, I prefer he should answer for himself." Alfred
would write by this post. "It is a mere form," said he, "for my father
has but one answer to his children, 'Please yourselves.' He sometimes
adds, 'and how much money shall you want?' These are his two formulae."

He then delivered a glowing eulogy on his father; and Mrs. Dodd, to whom
the boy's character was now a grave and anxious study, saw with no common
satisfaction his cheek flush and his eyes moisten as he dwelt on the
calm, sober, unvarying affection, and reasonable indulgence he and his
sister had met with all their lives from the best of parents. Returning
to the topic of topics, he proposed an engagement. "I have a ring in my
pocket," said this brisk wooer, looking down. But this Mrs. Dodd thought
premature and unnecessary. "You are nearly of age," said she, "and then
you will be able to marry, if you are in the same mind." But, upon being
warmly pressed, she half conceded even this. "Well," said she, "on
receiving your father's consent, you can _propose_ an engagement to
Julia, and she shall use her own judgment; but, until then, you will not
even mention such a thing to her. May I count on so much forbearance from