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steps, the other fellows called out, "There, Bill! you've frightened 'em, you're so ugly."

Just then the Rev. George Onslow crossed at the end of the street; his appearance had never been half so welcome before. Miss Clayton was unmistakably glad that he happened to cast his eyes down the street, and turned to meet them. The simple glance of gratitude with which she accepted his offer to see her into Broad Street repaid him for a long anxiety, and fed his hopes for months.

58

CHAPTER V.

Marriage is the best state for man in general; and every man is a worse man in proportion as he is unfit for the married state."-Johnson.

"Marriage is a desperate thing: the frogs in Æsop were extremely wise; they had a mind to some water, but they would not leap into the well, because they could not leap out again."Selden.

ONE morning in this week Armstrong found in the small pile of his letters one from his brother and one from his mother. He opened, and read: "My dear Strong,-Please accept enclosed cheque "for two hundred guineas for your church. I am

glad the people have taken up the matter so "heartily, and that it is likely to prove such a

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success. When I am rich, I shall be glad to "have a brother a bishop; but I am afraid you "will be too go-ahead and uncompromising for

"such preferment. I have added twenty guineas "for your last new scheme, whatever it is,—a "house for teaching big boys to cut their sticks, 66 or little ones to cut their teeth. You see I am 66 'just the same wild fellow I used to be. I can't "help being full of spirits. Everything prospers. "What a fortune you would have made with (6 your clever dash, if you had not given the af"fairs over to me! That new opening you made "so capitally in the Java trade must of itself "bring in a fortune, if I am not a fool and let it "run somewhere else. But trust me. I have

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pretty Effie to make a fortune for now. We "are to be married in six months, you know, "when she is of age. I send you another photo"graph; the tint of the eyes and cheeks is right, "but her hair is not so dark as it looks here. "Is it not pretty? When you write, tell me "frankly; only if she does not exactly please

your difficult eye, please don't say so. She "will charm you amazingly, I am sure. You "must like her. She is very religious; at least "she always looks very good at church. But "she don't talk much about it. That's all the

"better. I tell her she will be marrying a deal "of religion because you are my brother. Then "she quietly says it's quite enough to marry me, "as if sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,' "and I wanted her to have two husbands. Good "bye. Whenever you would like a cheque for

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any object, do let me have the pleasure of send❝ing one. I suppose you are laying up treasure "in heaven as fast as I am on earth. Well, no "doubt I shall be religious too some day; and if "not, we will be brothers at the Day of Judg"ment, and go shares. You shall have half my

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money, and I half your goodness. That is a "bargain, mind. Good-bye, dear old fellow; it "always does me good to think of you.-Your merry, and lucky, and most loving brother, "FREDERICK."

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The other letter was shorter. Mrs. Magney, like most elderly people, liked writing far less than talking.

"My dear Son,-I shall be spending Monday "next at the Ellises', at Cheltenford, on my way "back to town to Harry's. So I shall come over "on Tuesday morning to assure myself that my

"dear Strong is well. Please meet me at the "station. I leave here by the 11.15 train.-Your "most loving Mother."

On the morning indicated Armstrong met his mother, made a number of calls with her, and then brought her home to lunch. They were to dine at the Claytons', and Mrs. Magney was to stay the night at the parsonage, if she would so oblige them. So came the invitation through Armstrong, and was accepted.

"I am pretty well satisfied with your looks, my dear boy," said Mrs. Magney, kissing her son on both cheeks as a preliminary to taking her seat in his study, "only you are a little careworn. You have been working too hard, and reading too much. I shall prescribe a remedy."

"I will try to be obedient, mother, especially if the remedy is to my taste. Please don't let it be a punishment."

"No, indeed, I will not."

"The remedy is-?"

"A wife."

c "Worse than the disease," broke in at once Armstrong, laughing gaily. "I am a little worn

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