The lady is engaged." "Well, then," said Bartley, "it will be time to come to me when he has abandoned those views, and also overcome his prejudices against me and mine.

But there is another difficulty.

My daughter is not old enough to marry, and I object to long engagements.

Everything, therefore, points to delay, and on this I must insist." Bartley having taken this moderate ground, remained immovable.

He promised to encourage no other suitor; but in return he said he had a right to demand that Walter would not disturb his daughter's peace of mind until the prospect was clearer.