In the mean time he makes the best of life, has his good days and bad days, and entertains a great deal of company at a delightful place near Maidenhead--with a garden sloping to the river like that you were talking of just now, only on a very extensive scale.

You know how often I have wanted you to run down there with me, and how there has been always something to prevent your going." "Yes, I remember.

Rely upon it, I shall contrive to accept the next invitation, come what may.

But I can't say I like the idea of this prospective kind of courtship, or that I consider it quite worthy of you, Saltram." "My dear Gilbert, when a fellow is burdened with debt and of a naturally idle disposition, he is apt to take rather a liberal view of such means of advancement in life as may present themselves to him.

But there is no prospective courtship--nothing at all resembling a courtship in this case, believe me.