The young people’s tete a tete was interrupted by Miss Dorothea, who hated to hear any one talk but herself, asking Mr. Anthony, “If it were true that he was studying for the Church?” On his replying in the affirmative, she continued:  “Your father, Mr. Anthony, is determined to let nothing go out of the family.  One would have thought that you could have afforded to have lived like an independent gentleman.”

Anthony, who was unfortunately very sensitive on this subject, colored deeply as he replied,

“My choice of a profession, madam, was not so much in accordance with my father’s wishes as with my own.”

“Well, I must say that I think it a strange choice for a young man of fortune.”

“I made choice of that mode of life, in which I hoped to be of most use to my fellow creatures.  The fortune to which you allude, Miss Whitmore, may never be mine.”

“Yes, yes; I see you are determined to look out for the main chance,” continued his ill-natured tormentor.  “But, to do you justice, young man, I think nature made you for a parson.”

This speech was greatly relished by Godfrey, who burst into a loud laugh.  He secretly enjoyed poor Anthony’s mortification; and, though he detested the old maid himself, he had successfully wormed himself into her good graces, by paying her some judicious compliments, in which the graces of her person and her youthful appearance had been the theme of praise.

“By the by, Tony,” he said, turning suddenly to his cousin, “you have received a letter from your father, and never told me one word about it.  Was it a kind epistle?”

“Better than I expected,” returned Anthony coldly.  “But I never discuss family matters in public.”

“Public!  Are we not among friends?” said Godfrey, persisting in his impertinent interrogatories.

“But you inherit a good deal of the suspicious cautious character of your father.  When you grow old, I believe that you will be just as fond of money as he is.  Did he offer to advance a sufficient sum to settle you in life?”

“No, he did not.”

“Astonishing!  What excuse can he give for such unreasonable conduct?”

“The old one, I suppose,” said Colonel Hurdlestone, laughing—­“poverty.”

“Ha! ha! ha!” reiterated Godfrey.

“Godfrey!” said Anthony, with much severity of look and tone:  “how can such a lamentable instance of human weakness (madness, I might say) awaken your mirth?”

“Is it not enough to make one laugh, when an old fellow, rich enough to pay the National Debt, refuses to provide for his only son, and suffers him to live upon the charity of a brother?”

This unexpected though oft-repeated insult was too much for Anthony to bear at such a moment, and in the presence of the woman he loved.  The proud flash of his dark eye told how deeply his gentle nature was moved.  His indignation did not escape the watchful eye of Juliet; but he mastered his passion, and answered his cousin in a calm low voice.