Year: 1877

Pm sure, my dear, L should be the
last person in the world to wish you
to marry Mr.. Colebrook if you real
ly dislike him.


| neither like nor dislike him, ma
ma. All l say is that l don't care
anything about him, and l think
one ought to care little about the
man one means to marry.


OF course, and | should be sorry
If you were to marry with any other
feeling; but l can't help thinking
you would get to like him if you
were to give him an opportunity of
making himself agreeable to you.
What is your objection?


Nothing in particular, but he
is not the sort of a man l should
choose for my husband.


Now, Ada, l do expect you
will answer me truly. Is there any
one else you prefer?


Oh, no, mamma, nobody.


Then, my dear child, 1 really
think you should try to make up
your mind. Only think what the
consequences OF your refusal will be.
Your uncle has declared that unless
you accept this young mans offer
he will not leave you a penny of his
money, and you know that my pen
sion is only for nay life; so that, if l
should die, you would be quite un-
provided for, and whatever would
you do?


1 would do as hundreds of other
girls do; work for my living.


That is easier said than done, my
dear, you would find it a hard trial
after all the indulgences you have
been accustomed to. A woman
who has to struggle with the world
does not fud it an easy task, depend
upon it.


But you are not going to die
mother dear, and it does not follow
that l am to live single all my life
because l object to marrying Mr..
Colebrook.


And what sort of a marriage
would you be likely to make if your
uncle gave you nothing? Rich men
do not marry penniless maidens.


Then suppose Mr.. Colebrook
wishes to marry me for my uncle's
money. Upon my word, | am very
much obliged to him.


My dear Ada, that is ungenerous,
when everybody knows that he
might have taken his choice of sew
eral young ladies with much larger
fortunes than Mr.. May is likely to
bestOw on you.


l wish to goodness he had; then l
should not be troubled about him.


You are a foolish girl to throw
distinctions in the way of your
good fortune; but l sincerely hope
and trust that you will think better
of it before your uncle comes here
again.


The subject of this controversy
was the only son of a wealthy man
ufacturer in the town of Noting
ham. He was a fine looking young
man, somewhat deficient in educa-
ton, and rather inclined, perhaps,
to think too much of himself; but a
very good fellow, nevertheless.
Still there was something wanting
to satisfy the heart of Ada Nav,
and although she could not define to
herself what that something was,
she no less felt that Richard Cole
brook had 1t not.


Her mother had, however, sue
ceeded IN extracting half promise
that she would endeavor to overcome
her disinclination to a marriage so
advantageous in every way, and to
which she could find no reasonable
objection; but she felt as if she had
done wrong in making even this con-
cession, and in pensiVe mood bent
her steps towards her favorite walks
on the banks of the Trent, where a
wide, grassy path, shaded by lofty
trees, forming thick grove on one
side, runs for some distance along
the edge of the river. 1t was beau,
tiful but solitary spot, not a human
being seen, nor single habitation,
save the ferryman's cottage on the
other shore.


No place could be more fitted for
melancholy musings and as the
young girl walked slowly on, her
thoughts ran thus


l do not know what it is to love:
yet l am sure it is something shall
never feel for Richard Colebrook.
Then will it not be a sin to marry
him? And why should l? l am
but nineteen, and l would much
rather remain free, If they would
only let me be at peace till | am a
year or two older.


Here her mediLations were inter-
rupted by the sudden appearance of
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