I say it is so." Mary knew very well what her mother meant and was safe at least from any allusion to Reginald Morton.

There was an idea prevalent in the house, and not without some cause, that Mr.Surtees the curate had looked with an eye of favour on Mary Masters.

Mr.Surtees was certainly a gentleman, but his income was strictly limited to the sum of L120 per annum which he received from Mr.Mainwaring.Now Mrs.Masters disliked clergymen, disliked gentlemen, and especially disliked poverty; and therefore was not disposed to look upon Mr.Surtees as an eligible suitor for her stepdaughter.

But as the curate's courtship had hitherto been of the coldest kind and as it had received no encouragement from the young lady, Mary was certainly justified in declaring that the allusion was not fair.

"What I want to know is this;--are you prepared to marry Lawrence Twentyman ?" To this question, as Mary could not give a favourable answer, she thought it best to make none at all.