xceptionable； but there are many men； unhappily； whose moral reputations are； and should be obstacles in a woman's eyes。〃
'A regular old bachelor's notion； a mere marriage of convenience；' thought Harry； who rather resented the idea of the five hundred congenial spirits； in the shape of suitable young ladies。
〃You are surprised； perhaps； to hear this from me；〃 continued Mr。 Henley。
〃No； sir： for I once before heard you express much the same opinion。〃
〃Did you？I don't often think or speak on such matters； but I remember to have heard you talk about a single life occasionally； at Rio； and I always intended to give this piece of advice to my nephews； and to you； Harry。 If I were to live my life over again； I should marry myself； for of late years I have felt the want of a home； and one can't have a pleasant home without the women。〃
〃There I agree with you； sir； entirely。〃
〃That is more than some gay； rattling young fellows would admit。 Since you think so；〃 continued Mr。 Henley； smiling； 〃perhaps you have also fixed upon some amiable young girl； who would be a pleasant companion for you。〃
Hazlehurst was silent。
〃I dare say you have； and I might have spared you the advice。 If that is the case； you must make the most of the next three months； persuade her to marry you； and we can take her to Russia； to do the honours for us。〃
〃Things have not gone quite so far as that； yet；〃 said Harry； just a little embarrassed。
〃Well； my good fellow； settle the matter your own way； I have at least satisfied my conscience； by telling you not to follow my own bad example；〃 said the minister； as he rose from table。
It seemed that Mr。 Henley； like most old bachelors； regretted not having married； though he thought that his habits had all become too confirmed； to make it worth while to attempt a change。 As a general rule； it will be found that your decidedly old maid is contented with her lot； while your very old bachelor is dissatisfied with his。 The peculiar evils of a single lifefor every life must have its ownare most felt by women early in the day； by men； in old age。 The world begins very soon to laugh at the old maid； and continues to laugh； until shamed out of the habit by her good nature； and her respectable life。 The bachelor； on the contrary； for a long time finds an ally in the world； he goes on enjoying the pleasures it offers； until old age makes him weary of themand then； as his head grows grey； when he finds himself going out of favour； he begins to feel the want of something bettera home to retreat to。 He looks about him； and he finds that his female contemporary has outlived her peculiar annoyances； 〃the world forgetting； by the world forgot；〃 she has long since found some collateral home； or； in her right as a woman； has made a home for herself； where she lives as pleasantly as her neighbours。 Perhaps he sets about imitating her example； but； poor fellow； he finds it an awkward task； he can never succeed in making his household gods smile with a good will； on a home where no female voice is heard at the fire…side。
｛〃the world forgetting。。。。〃 = Alexander Pope （English poet； 1688…1744）； 〃Eloisa to Abelard〃 I。207…208： 〃How happy is the blameless Vestal's lot！ The world forgetting； by the world forgot。〃｝
So thought Mr。 Henley； and he had been intending to recommend to Harry to look out for a wife； for some time past。 The minister's ideas on the subject of love and matrimony were； to be sure； rather matter of fact； and statesmanlike； he would have been quite satisfied if Hazlehurst had married the first young girl； of a respectable family； that he met with； the hundredth part of Mrs。 Creighton's attractions he would have thought sufficient。 Harry forgave him； however； for the sake of the kindness intended by the advice he had given； and the minister had the satisfaction of seeing his secretary； that evening； at a concert； quite gallant and attentive to a party of ladies； several of whom were young and pretty； although one was young and ugly。
〃Who is that？〃 he asked of a friend； 〃that lady to whom Hazlehurst is talking？ Half the young people here have grown up； since I was last at home。〃
〃That is Mrs。 Creighton。〃
〃No； not Mrs。 Creighton； I know hera charming woman； the lady on the right。〃
〃That is Miss Van Alstyne。 Mrs。 St。 Leger is next to her； the young girl before her is Miss Emma Taylor。〃
〃A pretty girlbut noisy； it seems。〃
〃On the next bench； with Ellsworth； are Mrs。 Tallman Taylor； the great beauty； and Miss Wyllys； the heiress。〃
〃Yes； I know the family very well； but I never saw Mr。 Wyllys's granddaughter before。〃
〃She is quite plain；〃 observed one gentleman。
〃Very plain；〃 replied the other； turning away。
The evening proved very sultry； and after accompanying the ladies home from the concert； Mr。 Ellsworth proposed to Harry a stroll in the open air。 The friends set out together； taking the direction of the spring； and； being alone； their conversation gradually became of a confidential nature。 They touched upon politics； Mr。 Henley's character and views； and various other topics； concluding with their own personal affairs。 At length； when they had been out some little time； Mr。 Ellsworth； after a moment's silence； turned to Harry and said：
〃Hazlehurst； I have a confession to make； but I dare say you will not give me much credit for franknessyou have very probably guessed already what I have to tell。〃
〃I certainly have had some suspicions of my own for the last few days； but I may be mistaken； I am not very good at guessing。〃
〃I can have no motive；〃 continued Mr。 Ellsworth； 〃in concealing from you my regard for Miss Wyllys； and I hope you will wish me success。〃
〃Certainly；〃 replied Harry； who was evidently somewhat prepared for the disclosure。
〃It is now some time since I have been attached to her； but it is only lately that I have been able to urge my suit as I could wish。 The better I know Elinor Wyllys； the more anxious I am for success。 I never met with a woman of a more lovely character。〃
〃You only do her justice。〃
〃There is something about her that is peculiar； different from the common…place set of young ladies one meets with every day； and yet she is perfectly feminine and womanly。〃
And Mr。 Ellsworth here ran over various good qualities of Elinor's。 It is impossible to say； whether Harry smiled or not； at this lover…like warmth： if he did； it was too dark for his friend to observe it。
〃In a situation like mine； with a daughter to educate； the choice of a wife is particularly important。 Of course I feel much anxiety as to the decision of a woman like Miss Wyllys； one whose good opinion is worth the wooing： and yet； if I do not deceive myself； her manner is not discouraging。〃
〃Is she aware of your feelings？〃 asked Harry。
〃Yes； I have only proposed in form quite lately； however； a day or two after you arrived。 Miss Wyllys scarcely seemed prepared for my declaration； although I thought I had spoken sufficiently distinctly to be understood； some time since。 She wished for time to consider： I was willing to wait as long as she pleased； with the hope of eventually succeeding。 Her friends are quite well disposed towards me； think。 Mr。 Wyllys's manner to me has always been gratifying； and I hope her aunt is in my favour。 To speak frankly； there have been times when I have felt much encouraged as regards Miss Wyllys herself。 You will not think me a coxcomb； Hazlehurst； for opening my heart to you in this way。〃
〃Certainly not； you honour me by your confidence。〃
〃I should like to have your honest opinion as to my future prospects； for； of course； one can never feel sure until everything is settled。 Josephine is hardly a fair judgeshe is very sanguine； but like myself she is interested in the affair。〃
〃Mrs。 Creighton has so much discernment； that I should think she could not be easily deceived。 If my kinswoman knows your views； I should say that you have reason to be encouraged by her manner。 There is nothing like coquetry about her； I am convinced she thinks highly of you。〃
〃Thank you； it gives me great pleasure to hear you say so。 The question must now be decided before long。 I was only prevented from explaining myself earlier； by the fear of speaking too soon。 For though I have known Miss Wyllys some time； yet we have seldom met。 I dare say you are surprised that I did not declare myself sooner； I am inclined to think you would have managed an affair of the kind more expeditiously； for you are more rapid in most of your movements than myself。 But although I might imagine love at first sight； I never could fancy a declaration worth hearing； the first day。〃
〃Do you insinuate that such is the practice of your humble servant？〃 asked Hazlehurst； smiling。
〃Oh； no； but I was afraid you might disapprove of my deliberation。 My chief hope rests upon Miss Wyllys's good sense and the wishes of her friends； who； I think； are evidently favourable to me。 She has no silly； high…flown notions； she is now of an agethree or four…and…twenty I thinkto take a reasonable view of the world； and I hope she will find the sincere affection of a respectable man； whose habits and position resemble her own； sufficient for her。〃
〃You wish； I suppose； to hear me repeat； that such will undoubtedly be the result；〃 said Harry； smiling again。
〃Perhaps I do；〃 replied Mr。 Ellsworth； in the same tone。 〃I suppose you are discerning enough to be aware that I have a rival in Mr。 Stryker。〃
〃Stryker attentive to Elinor？ It has not struck me； I had fancied him rather an admirer of Mrs。 Creighton's。〃
〃Of Josephine？ Oh； no； she can't endure him； they are quarrelling half the time when together。 No； it is very evident that Stryker is courting Miss Wyllys's favour。 But I confess I feel encouraged by her conduct towards him； there is a quiet civility in it； which speaks anything but very decided approbation。〃
〃I know Elinor too well； not to feel assured she must despise a man of Stryker's character；〃 said Harry； with some indignation。 〃He can't appreciate her； it can be nothing more； on his part； than downright fortune…hunting。〃
〃No doubt； there you mention another motive I have； for not being too hasty in my declaration to Miss Wyllys。 I could wish to convince her