“Did Frank look miserable?” said Maggie, anxiously.

“There now! you don’t care for anything but the mention of his name.”

“But did he look unhappy?” persisted Maggie.

“I can’t say he looked happy, dear Mousey; but it was quite different when he came back from seeing you.  You know you always had the art of stilling any person’s trouble.  You and my aunt Buxton are the only two I ever knew with that gift.”

“I am so sorry he has any trouble to be stilled,” said Maggie.

“And I think it will do him a world of good.  Think how successful his life has been! the honors he got at Eton! his picture taken, and I don’t know what! and at Cambridge just the same way of going on.  He would be insufferably imperious in a few years, if he did not meet with a few crosses.”

“Imperious!—­oh Erminia, how can you say so?”

“Because it’s the truth.  He happens to have very good dispositions; and therefore his strong will is not either disagreeable, or offensive; but once let him become possessed by a wrong wish, and you would then see how vehement and imperious he would be.  Depend upon it, my uncle’s resistance is a capital thing for him.  As dear sweet Aunt Buxton would have said, ‘There is a holy purpose in it;’ and as Aunt Buxton would not have said, but as I, a ‘fool, rush in where angels fear to tread,’ I decide that the purpose is to teach Master Frank patience and submission.”

“Erminia—­how could you help”—­and there Maggie stopped.

“I know what you mean; how could I help falling in love with him?  I think he has not mystery and reserve enough for me.  I should like a man with some deep, impenetrable darkness around him; something one could always keep wondering about.  Besides, think what clashing of wills there would have been!  My uncle was very short-sighted in his plan; but I don’t think he thought so much about the fitness of our characters and ways, as the fitness of our fortunes!”

“For shame, Erminia!  No one cares less for money than Mr. Buxton!”

“There’s a good little daughter-in-law elect!  But seriously, I do think he is beginning to care for money; not in the least for himself, but as a means of aggrandizement for Frank.  I have observed, since I came home at Christmas, a growing anxiety to make the most of his property; a thing he never cared about before.  I don’t think he is aware of it himself, but from one or two little things I have noticed, I should not wonder if he ends in being avaricious in his old age.”  Erminia sighed.

Maggie had almost a sympathy with the father, who sought what he imagined to be for the good of his son, and that son, Frank.  Although she was as convinced as Erminia, that money could not really help any one to happiness, she could not at the instant resist saying: 

“Oh! how I wish I had a fortune!  I should so like to give it all to him.”

“Now Maggie! don’t be silly!  I never heard you wish for anything different from what was before, so I shall take this opportunity of lecturing you on your folly.  No!  I won’t either, for you look sadly tired with all your agitation; and besides I must go, or Jem will be wondering what has become of me.  Dearest cousin-in-law, I shall come very often to see you; and perhaps I shall give you my lecture yet.”