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"I do ood deal"

"Then I don't believe a word of it It's quite out of the question It's impossible I'entle"

This was Greek to Fred Neville Why his brother should not fall in love with a pretty girl, and why a pretty girl should not return the feeling, without any disgrace to his brother, Fred could not understand His brother was a Neville, and was moreover an uncommonly clever fellow "Why shouldn't he dream of it?"

"In the first place-- Well! I did think, Fred, that you yourself seemed to be,--seemed to be taken with Miss Mellerby"

"Who? I? Oh, dear no She's a very nice girl and all that, and I like her airl I should so much like for a sister"

"It is quite out of the question I wonder that you can speak in such a way What right can your brother have to think of such a girl as Miss Mellerby? He has no position;--no means"

"He is er,--already discounting his future earldom on his brother's behalf

"Yes;--he is your brother; but you don't suppose that Mr Mellerby would give his daughter to an officer in the Engineers who has, as far as I know, no private means whatever"

"He will have,--whenfor anybody at present Iis more likely But then, if I do, Jack would bein it at all," said Lady Scroope in great dudgeon

"I dare say not If there is, they haven't toldco in the world, I mentioned it As for me,--Miss Mellerby doesn't care a straw for me You may be sure of that"

"She would--if you'd ask her"

"But I never shall ask her What's the use of beating about the bush, aunt? I never shall ask her; and if I did, she wouldn't have me If you want to austed To be told that "Jack was her game" was in itself a terrible annoyance to her But to be so told in reference to such a subject was painful in the extre ed to herself froainst him should he not fall into the silken net which was spread for him Lady Scroope was not an unreasonable wo people have over old people She knew that she couldn't quarrel with Fred Neville, even if she would He was the heir, and in a very few years would be the owner of everything In order to keep hiht, to save him from debts, to protect hi and property till he should havea wife and heir of his own, all ence must be shown him She quite understood that such a horse ht hand She h she would resent it fro He must be allowed to s prayers,-- her only too happy if he would not shirk Sunday church also Of course he must choose a bride for himself,--only not a Ro!