“I should be uncandid if I were to say so, sir.  I am entirely aware of the cause of it; but I cannot see that there is any blame whatsoever to be attached to either you or yours for the act of my poor uncle.  I assure you, sir, I am sorry that my family failed to consider it in its proper light; and you will permit me to request that you we not identify my conduct with theirs.  So far as I am least am concerned, my uncle’s disposition of his property shall make no breach nor occasion any coolness between us.  On the contrary, I shall feel honored by being permitted to pay my respects to you all, and to make myself worthy of your good opinions.”

“That is generously spoken, Mr. Woodward,” replied the old man; “and it will afford us sincere pleasure to reciprocate the sentiments you have just expressed.”

“You make me quite happy, sir,” replied Woodward, bowing very courteously.  “This, I presume, is the young lady to whom my cousin Agnes was so much attached?”

“She is, sir,” replied her father.

“Might I hope for the honor of being presented to her, Mr. Goodwin?”

“With pleasure, sir.  Alice, my dear, although you already know who this gentleman is, yet allow me, nevertheless, to present him to you.”

The formal introduction accordingly took place, after which Woodward, turning to Mrs. Goodwin, said,

“I am not surprised, madam, at the predilection which my cousin entertained for Miss Goodwin, even from what I see; but I feel that I am restrained by her presence from expressing myself at further length.  I have only to say that I wish her every happiness, long life, and health to enjoy that of which she seems, and I am certain is, so worthy.”

He accompanied those words with a low bow and a very gracious smile, after which, his horse having been brought to the door, he took his leave with a great deal of politeness, and rode, according to the directions received from Mr. Goodwin, toward his father’s house.

After his departure the family began to discuss his character somewhat to the following effect: 

“That is a fine young man,” said Mr. Goodwin, “liberal-minded and generous, or I am much mistaken.  What do you think, Martha,” he added, addressing his wife.

“Upon my word,” replied that lady, “I am much of your opinion—­yet I don’t know either; although polite and courteous, there is something rather disagreeable about him.”

“Why,” inquired her husband, “what is there disagreeable about him?  I could perceive nothing of the sort; and when we consider that his uncle, who left this property to Alice, was his mother’s brother, and that he was nephew by blood as well as by law, and that it was the old man’s original intention that the property should go directly to him, or in default of issue, to his brother—­I think when we consider this, Martha, that we cannot but entertain a favorable impression of him, considering what he has lost by the unexpected turn given to his prospects in consequence of his uncle’s will.  Alice, my dear, what is your opinion of him?”