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to him； his sister had silenced him at starting。 The story touching； this time；
on the question of marriage； Miss Lavinia had her woman's interest in
seeing full justice done to the subject。 She seized on her brother's narrative
as on property in her own right。
〃Joseph should have told you；〃 she began； addressing herself to
Turlington； 〃that our dear girl was unusually depressed in spirits this
morning。 Quite in the right frame of mind for a little serious talk about her
future life。 She ate nothing at breakfast； poor child； but a morsel of dry
toast。〃
〃And marmalade；〃 said Sir Joseph； striking in at the first opportunity。
The story； on this occasion； being Miss Lavinia's story； the polite
contradictions necessary to its successful progress were naturally
transferred from the sister to the brother； and became contradictions on Sir
Joseph's side。
〃No；〃 said Miss Lavinia； gently； 〃if you _will_ have it； Joseph jam。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 persisted Sir Joseph； 〃marmalade。〃
〃What _does_ it matter； brother？〃
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〃Sister！ the late great and good Doctor Johnson said accuracy ought
always to be studied even in the most trifling things。〃
〃You _will_ have your way； Joseph〃（this was the formula
answering to Sir Joseph's 〃Let us waive the point〃which Miss Lavinia
used； as a means of conciliating her brother； and getting a fresh start for
her story）。 〃Well； we took dear Natalie out between us； after breakfast； for
a little walk in the grounds。 My brother opened the subject with infinite
delicacy and tact。 'Circumstances；' he said； 'into which it was not then
necessary to enter； made it very desirable； young as she was； to begin to
think of her establishment in life。' And then he referred； Richard （so
nicely）； to your faithful and devoted attachment〃
〃Excuse me； Lavinia。 I began with Richard's attachment； and then I got
on to her establishment in life。〃
〃Excuse _me_； Joseph。 You managed it much more delicately than you
suppose。 You didn't drag Richard in by the head and shoulders in that
way。〃
〃Lavinia！ I began with Richard。〃
〃Joseph！ your memory deceives you。〃
Turlington's impatience broke through all restraint。
〃How did it end？〃 he asked。 〃Did you propose to her that we should be
married in the first week of the New Year？〃
〃Yes！〃 said Miss Lavinia。
〃No！〃 said Sir Joseph。
The sister looked at the brother with an expression of affectionate
surprise。 The brother looked at the sister with a fund of amiable
contradiction； expressed in a low bow。
〃Do you really mean to deny； Joseph； that you told Natalie we had
decided on the first week in the New Year？〃
〃I deny the New Year； Lavinia。 I said early in January。〃
〃You _will_ have your way； Joseph！ We were walking in the shrubbery
at the time。 I had our dear girl's arm in mine； and I felt it tremble。 She
suddenly stopped。 'Oh；' she said； 'not so soon！' I said； 'My dear； consider
Richard！' She turned to her father。 She said； 'Don't； pray don't press it so
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soon； papa！ I respect Richard； I like Richard as your true and faithful
friend； but I don't love him as I ought to love him if I am to be his wife。'
Imagine her talking in that way！ What could she possibly know about it？
Of course we both laughed〃
〃_you_ laughed； Lavinia。〃
〃_you_ laughed； Joseph。〃
〃Get on； for God's sake！〃 cried Turlington； striking his hand
passionately on the table by which he was sitting。 〃Don't madden me by
contradicting each other！ Did she give way or not？〃
Miss Lavinia turned to her brother。 〃Contradicting each other； Joseph！〃
she exclaimed； lifting her hands in blank amazement。
〃Contradicting each other！〃 repeated Sir Joseph； equally astonished on
his side。 〃My dear Richard； what can you be thinking of？ I contradict my
sister！ We never disagreed in our lives。〃
〃I contradict my brother！ We have never had a cross word between us
from the time when we were children。〃
Turlington internally cursed his own irritable temper。
〃I beg your pardonboth of you；〃 he said。 〃I didn't know what I was
saying。 Make some allowance for me。 All my hopes in life are centered in
Natalie； and you have just told me （in her own words； Miss Lavinia） that
she doesn't love。 You don't mean any harm； I dare say； but you cut me to
the heart。〃
This confession； and the look that accompanied it； touched the ready
sympathies of the two old people in the right place。 The remainder of the
story dropped between them by common consent。 They vied with each
other in saying the comforting words which would allay their dear
Richard's anxiety。 How little he knew of young girls。 How could he be so
foolish； poor fellow！ as to attach any serious importance to what Natalie
had said？ As if a young creature in her teens knew the state of her own
heart！ Protestations and entreaties were matters of course； in such cases。
Tears even might be confidently expected from a right…minded girl。 It had
all ended exactly as Richard would have wished it to end。 Sir Joseph had
said； 〃My child！ this is a matter of experience； love will come when you
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are married。〃 And Miss Lavinia had added； 〃Dear Natalie； if you
remembered your poor mother as I remember her； you would know that
your father's experience is to be relied on。〃 In that way they had put it to
her； and she had hung her head and had givenall that maiden modesty
could be expected to givea silent consent。 〃The wedding…day was fixed
for the first week in the New Year。〃 （〃No； Joseph； not Januarythe New
Year。〃） 〃And God bless you； Richard！ and may your married life be a long
and happy one。〃
So the average ignorance of human nature； and the average belief in
conventional sentiment； complacently contemplated the sacrifice of one
more victim on the all…devouring altar of Marriage！ So Sir Joseph and his
sister provided Launcelot Linzie with the one argument which he wanted
to convince Natalie： 〃Choose between making th