again and the moment shot away into the depths of the past to mingle with all the lost that are drowned there hard times i removing her eyes she eat so long looking silently toward the town that he said at length are you consulting the chimneys of the works there seems to be nothing there but languid and monotonous smoke yet when the night comes fire bursts out father she answered turning quickly of course i know that i do not see the application of the remark to do him justice he did not at all she passed it away with a slight motion of her hand and her attention upon him again said father i have thought that life is very short � this was so distinctly one of his subjects that he interposed it is short no doubt my dear still the average duration of human life is proved to have increased of late years the calculations of various life assurance and offices among other figures which can not go have established the fact i speak of my own life father indeed still said mr i need not point out to you that it is governed by the laws which govern lives in the while it lasts i would wish to do the little i can and the little i am fit for what does it matter mr seemed rather at a loss to understand the last four words replying how matter what matter my mr she went on in a steady straight way without regarding this asks me to marry him the question i have to ask myself is shall i many him that is so father is it not you have told me so father have you not certainly my dear it be so since mr likes to take me thus i am satisfied to accept his proposal tell him ther as soon as you please that this was my answer repeat it word for word if you can i should wish him to know what i said it is quite right my dear retorted her father to be exact i will observe your very proper request have you any wish in reference to the period of your my none father what does it matter mr ha drawn his chair a little nearer to her and hard times taken her hand but her of wards to strike with some little discord on his ear he paused to look at her and still holding her hand said i have not considered it essential to you one question the possibility in it appeared to me to bs too remote but perhaps i ought to do so you have never in secret any other proposal father she returned almost scornfully what other proposal can have been made to me whom h ave i seen where have i been i at are my heart s my returned mr reassured and satisfied you correct me justly i merely wished to discharge my duty what do i know father said in her quiet of tastes and fancies of aspirations and of all that part of my nature in which such light things might have been nourished what escape have i had from problems that could be and that could be grasped as she said it she unconsciously closed her hand as if upon a solid object and slowly opened it as though she were dust or ash my dear assented her eminently practical parent quite true quite true why father she pursued what a strange to ask me the baby preference that even i have heard of as common among children has never had its innocent resting place in my breast you have been so careful of me that i never had a child s heart you have trained me so well that i never dreamed a child s dream you have dealt so wisely with me father my cradle to this hour that i never had a child s belief or a child s fear mr was quite moved by his success and by this io it my dear said he you abundantly repay my care kiss me my dear girl so his daughter kissed him her in his embrace he said i may assure you now my favorite child that i am made happy by the sound decision at which you have arrived mr is a very remarkable man and what httle can be said to exist between you � if any � is more than balanced by the tone your k di hard times my object so to you as that you might while still in your i early youth be if i may so express myself almost any age kiss me once more now let us go and find your mother accordingly they went down to the drawing room where the esteemed lady with no nonsense about her was as usual while worked beside her she gave some feeble signs of returning animation when they entered and presently the faint was presented in a sitting attitude mrs said her husband who had waited for the achievement of this some impatience allow me to present to you mrs oh i said mrs so you have settled it well i am sure i hope your health may be good for if your head begins to as soon as you are married which was the case with mine i can not consider that you are to be envied though have no doubt you think you are as all girls however i you joy my dear � and i hope you may now turn all your studies to good account i am sure i do i must give you a kiss of but don t touch my right shoulder for there s something running down it au day long and now you see mrs her after the ceremony i shall be worrying myself morning noon and night to know what i 