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He was standing with his back to the fire, and the light of the big ith the sun getting loas full on his face, so I had a good look at hi when one is writing one's own thoughts for one's own self to read when one is old, and keeping them in a locked-up journal, so I shall always tell the truth here--quite different things to what I should say if I were talking to so to them this scene Then I should say I found him utterly unattractive, and, in fact, I hardly noticed him! As it was, I noticed him very much, and I have a tiresome inward conviction that he could be very attractive indeed, if he liked

He looked up, and I came forith my best demure air as Mr Barton nervously introduced us, and we shook hands I left him to speak first

"Abolish and pro!

"Yes, indeed," I said "You have just arrived?"

And so we continued in this banal ith Mr Barton twirling his thu, one could see, that we should soon co a reêne of the situation

At last Mr Carruthers said to Mr Barton that he would go round and see the house, and I said tea would be ready when they got back And so they started

My cheeks would burn, and --not half the siht it would be up-stairs

When it was quite dark and the laht, they ca he did not want any tea, left us to find papers in the library

I gave Mr Carruthers soar and crealanced at ry throb in ot up and stood before the fire again Then, deliberately, as a an to speak

"You know the wish, or, rather, I should say, the command, my aunt left ht you up to the idea It is rather a tiresoer, but perhaps we had better get it over as soon as possible, as that is what I came down here to-day for The command was I should marry you" He paused a moment I remained perfectly still, with my hands idly clasped in my lap, and made myself keep my eyes on his face