convinced him, however, that she was telling him the truth.

"Now," said Jane kindly, "you have talked a great deal of nonsense to
me when my position was very different; but I am quite aware that
things are altogether changed. I will not feel at all hurt or angry
about it. We part perfectly good friends. But you cannot afford to
marry a wife without money, and I should be sorry to be a burden to any
man."

William Dalzell looked at the girl he had fancied himself in
love with for the last few months, and felt that his love had not been
of a very deep or absorbing character. If the two girls had been equal
favourites of their uncle's, his choice would have fallen on Elsie, who
was prettier, more elegant, more yielding, and, as he thought, more
affectionate. Her impulsive and confiding manner, her little
enthusiasms, her blunders, were to him more charming than Jane's steady
good sense and calm temper. Jane never wanted advice or assistance; she
was too independent in mind, and too robust in body, to care much about
little attentions, though she had become accustomed to his in the
course of time, and as there was no other person to compare him with,
had allowed herself to think a good deal of him. Mr. Hogarth had always
shown so marked a preference for Jane, and had so often expressed
displeasure and impatience at Elsie's deficiencies; his property, not
being entailed, was entirely at his own disposal, so that it was
probable that Jane would be left the larger share of it, while if he
made love to Alice it was quite possible that she would be
disinherited altogether, for he knew that he was not a favourite with
the old gentleman. He did not think that anything could shake Mr.
Hogarth's confidence in Jane, and he had been very careful in feeling
his ground sure before he made a formal proposal. He had tried to