In short, instead of being taken by surprise, the result showed Bartley quite prepared for this interview, and he baffled the young man without offending him.

He was cautious not to do that, because he was going to mine for coal, and feared remonstrances, and wanted Walter to take his part, or at least to be neutral, knowing his love for Mary.

So they parted good friends; but when he retailed the result to Julia Clifford she shook her head, and said the old fox had outwitted him.

Soon after, knitting her brows in thought for some time, she said, "She is very young, much younger than she looks.

I am afraid you will have to wait a little, and watch." "But," said Walter, in dismay, "am I not to see her or speak to her all the time I am waiting ?" "I'd see both fathers hanged first, if I was a man," said Julia.
In short, under the courageous advice of Julia Clifford, Walter began to throw himself in Mary's way, and look disconsolate; that set Mary pining directly, and Julia found her pale, and grieving for Walter, and persuaded her to write him two or three lines of comfort; she did, and that drew pages from him.