“I wish he were not coming,” Mrs Dale had said to her eldest daughter.

“I think you are wrong, mamma.”

“But if she should become fond of him, and then—­”

“Lily will never become really fond of any man till he shall have given her proper reason.  And if he admires her, why should they not come together?”

“But she is so young, Bell.”

“She is nineteen; and if they were engaged, perhaps, they might wait for a year or so.  But it’s no good talking in that way, mamma.  If you were to tell Lily not to give him encouragement, she would not speak to him.”

“I should not think of interfering.”

“No, mamma; and therefore it must take its course.  For myself, I like Mr Crosbie very much.”

“So do I, my dear.”

“And so does my uncle.  I wouldn’t have Lily take a lover of my uncle’s choosing.”

“I should hope not.”

“But it must be considered a good thing if she happens to choose one of his liking.”

In this way the matter had been talked over between the mother and her elder daughter.  Then Mr Crosbie had come; and before the end of the first month his declared admiration for Lily had proved the correctness of her sister’s foresight.  And during that short courtship all had gone well with the lovers.  The squire from the first had declared himself satisfied with the match, informing Mrs Dale, in his cold manner, that Mr Crosbie was a gentleman with an income sufficient for matrimony.

“It would be close enough in London,” Mrs Dale had said.

“He has more than my brother had when he married,” said the squire.

“If he will only make her as happy as your brother made me,—­while it lasted!” said Mrs Dale, as she turned away her face to conceal a tear that was coming.  And then there was nothing more said about it between the squire and his sister-in-law.  The squire spoke no word as to assistance in money matters,—­did not even suggest that he would lend a hand to the young people at starting, as an uncle in such a position might surely have done.  It may well be conceived that Mrs Dale herself said nothing on the subject.  And, indeed, it may be conceived, also, that the squire, let his intentions be what they might, would not divulge them to Mrs Dale.  This was uncomfortable, but the position was one that was well understood between them.

Bernard Dale was still at Allington, and had remained there through the period of Crosbie’s absence.  Whatever words Mrs Dale might choose to speak on the matter would probably be spoken to him; but, then, Bernard could be quite as close as his uncle.  When Crosbie returned, he and Bernard had, of course, lived much together; and, as was natural, there came to be close discussion between them as to the two girls, when Crosbie allowed it to be understood that his liking for Lily was becoming strong.

“You know, I suppose, that my uncle wishes me to marry the elder one,” Bernard had said.