"Well, let him try--let him try," repeated the commissioner, who, vexed as
he was, did not choose to run the risk of disobliging Mr. Percy, losing a
good match for him, or undergoing the scandal of its being known that he
forced his son into the church.

For obtaining this consent, however reluctantly granted by the
commissioner, Buckhurst warmly thanked Mr. Percy, who made one condition
with him, that he would go up to town immediately to commence his studies.

This Buckhurst faithfully promised to do, and only implored permission to
declare his attachment to Caroline.--Caroline was at this time not quite
eighteen, too young, her father said, to think of forming any serious
engagement, even were it with a person suited to her in fortune and in
every other respect.

Buckhurst declared that he had no idea of endeavouring even to obtain from
Miss Caroline Percy any promise or engagement.--He had been treated, he
said, too generously by her father, to attempt to take any step without his
entire approbation.

He knew he was not, and could not for many years, be in circumstances
that would enable him to support a daughter of Mr. Percy's in the station
to which she was, by her birth and fortune, entitled.--All he asked, he
repeated, was to be permitted to declare to her his passion.

Mr. Percy thought it was more prudent to let it be declared openly than
to have it secretly suspected; therefore he consented to this request,
trusting much to Buckhurst's honour and to Caroline's prudence.

To this first declaration of love Caroline listened with a degree of