An Old, Old Story.

growls ancl their grumbles , their hasty speeches and their hot tempers , their dislike of innovation , ancl their doubts of youth , yet we felt then , as Ave feel noiv , ( though they have long since left us here ) , that no Avarmer hearts , no truer friends ,

no more honest advisors , no more honourable , high-minded beings ever lived , for a little space of time , amid the flowery meads , or brightened tho dusty pathway of this mortal land of ours ! Peace to themancl for all suchfor we

, , should , as it seems to me , always entertain those feelings of admiration ancl affection , of regard and respect for them , which amid their many amusing little inconsistencies , are , indeed , their just clue from us all .

It Avas quite clear that for some reason or other Miss Margerison was not so much at her ease Avith Mr . Mainwaring as usual . Why ? What could be the reason ? Did the good , stout-hearted old girl suspect the object of his coming ? Was that the cause

of her sudden lvant of cordiality—the explanation of her sudden holding back ? It is a curious fact in the physiology of life , explain it as you may , that the old

folks do not look on matrimony Avith the same eyes as tho " young uns" do I Even Avhen all is apparently most serene , ancl comfortable , ancl expected , the " eltern , " as the Germans have it , often raise difficulties , ancl throw obstacles in the way .

One thing or another creates a question , constitutes a hitch , causes a discussion . They seem to haA'e forgotten , sometimes , that they ever Avent through the little " temporary insanity " themselves , ancl so they regard Avith a sort of quasi-suspicionnot

, to say affected indignation , those AVIIO take it for granted that their matrimonial arrangements are going to be made easy and smooth for them . They mean all right , but it is their little amiable Aveakness , their little old-Avorld way of

manifesting their own authority , and expressing their own vioiv of things and persons , of the proceeding in general , and matrimony in particular . And thus it Avas Avith Miss Margerison . She sat up straiht in her chairlooked at

g , Mr . Mainwaring as sturdily as she could look at anybody through her spectacles , and as Mr . Mainwaring afterwards said , " Avould not in any ivay try to help a lame

dog over a stile . " At last , desperate and determined he plunged " in medias res , " like a true Briton , or a crazy lover , Avhichever you like , and brought up the carefully avoided subject on the " tapis . " Miss Margerison hacl mentioned something casually about Lucy , when Mr .

Maiirwaring , blushing a little , ( "it is a good sign Avhen our young men blush ever so little , " remarks Miss Sloper ) , took the bull by the horns , and said to Miss Margerison , in a most dulcet tone ancl a most insinuating manner" I Avant to have

, a feAV Avords Avith you , my clear Miss Margerison , on a subject which very greatly concerns my present and future happiness . " "Do you , indeed , " replied Miss Margerison , quite calmly , " then I am very much at your service , my clear Mr .

Main-Avaring . " Miss Margerison kneAV very well Avhat Mr . Maiirwaring had come about , as well as he knew himself , what ho was as the Irishman said , " afther , " but like some other good old folks I have just alluded to ,

she would betray no interest herself in the affair , ancl Avould do nothing herself to expedite the denouement . But Mr . Mainwaring felt with the great Ccesar , that it was " neck or nothing , " ( he said to himself ) , " aut Ctesar aut nullus , "

ancl so ho " burnt his boats , " like a great statesman , and went forward gallantly to encounter Boadicea , " vi et armis . " Am I correct in my history ancl illustration , oh , sapient and well-informed young Balasso ? you are the last from school , perhaps you can enlighten an old fogey like me ?

"Yes , Miss Margerison , " for now Mr . Mainwaring Avent on to say in a very deprecatory tone , "You must bo aware that I have for very a long time admired your most charming niece , Lucy . " Miss Margerison kneiv it perfectly Avell ,

but she said nothing , though she crochetted aAvay most vigorously . And so Mr . Mainwaring Avent on to plead his cause , as how many have done the like before , ancl will do it again , Avhile old Time shall last , ancl they deserve our sympathydo they

, not , friendly readers ? " Yes , Miss Margerison , " he continued , " I am deeply attached to Lucy , ancl have been so for four years , ( a very long time ) , and she has been good enough to confess