’He said, of course; and asked whether he might speak to papa.  I tried to make him understand, that in talking of my family, I did not exactly mean papa, or even mamma.  Of course I was thinking what was due to the name of Gresham.  I know very well what papa would say.  He would give his consent in half a minute; he is so broken-hearted by these debts.  And, to tell you the truth, Amelia, I think mamma would too.  He did not seem quite to comprehend what I meant; but he did say that he knew it was a high ambition to marry into the family of the Greshams.  I am sure you would confess that he has the most proper feelings; and as for expressing them no man could do it better.

’He owned that it was ambition to ally himself with a family above his own rank in life, and that he looked to doing so as a means of advancing himself.  Now this was at any rate honest.  That was one of his motives, he said; though, of course, not his first:  and then he declared how truly he was attached to me.  In answer to this, I remarked that he had known me only a very short time.  This, perhaps, was giving him too much encouragement; but, at that moment, I hardly knew what to say, for I did not wish to hurt his feelings.  He then spoke of his income.  He has fifteen hundred a year from the business, and that will be greatly increased when his father leaves it; and his father is much older then Mr Gumption, though he is only a second partner.  Mortimer Gazebee will be the senior partner himself before very long; and perhaps that does alter his position a little.

’He has a very nice place down somewhere in Surrey; I have heard mamma say it is quite a gentleman’s place.  It is let now; but he will live there when he is married.  And he has property of his own besides which he can settle.  So, you see, he is quite as well off as Mr Oriel; better, indeed; and if a man is in a profession, I believe it is considered that it does not matter much what.  Of course, a clergyman can be a bishop; but then, I think I have heard that one attorney did once become Lord Chancellor.  I should have my carriage, you know; I remember his saying that, especially, though I cannot recollect how he brought it in.

’I told him, at last, that I was so much taken by surprise that I could not give him an answer then.  He was going up to London, he said, on the next day, and might he be permitted to address me on the same subject when he returned?  I could not refuse him, you know; and so now I have taken the opportunity of his absence to write to you for your advice.  You understand the world so very well, and know exactly what one ought to do in such a strange position!

’I hope I have made it intelligible, at least, as to what I have written about.  I have said nothing as to my own feelings, because I wish you to think on the matter without consulting them.  If it would be derogatory to accept Mr Gazebee, I certainly would not do so because I happen to like him.  If we were to act in that way, what would the world come to, Amelia?  Perhaps my ideas may be overstrained; if so, you will tell me.