CHAPTER III.

AN OFFER OF MARRIAGE.

MR. RIVERS's grey locks and greyer whiskers enframed a countenance on which Time had done its spiriting gently, though they marked an epoch of some fifty years. He was rather over the ordinary height, and of a frame which suggested both strength and the habit of using it. From his pleasant blue eye, and the general expression of his face, one would infer that his way in the world had been smooth, but in reality he had seen many trials, and his cheerful look was simply the image of a genial spirit. The other man was twenty years his junior, yet seemed his elder in gravity and in acquaintance with care. This, too, was a reflection from within, life having given few rubs to Luke

Bradley, and all his cares were of his own creation.

Something of his brooding air might be due to his creed; for he belonged to a sect with views bordering on fanaticism, but his tendency to gloom was really innate, and it was elective affinity that drew him to the Plymouth Brethren. His religious tenets

did not warrant the attention bestowed on his toilet, but they asserted their presence there, in spite of his neat array and the trimness of his beard and moustache, and the effect was to give his appearance a blankness which savoured more of a figure at Madame Tussaud's than a living man. Nevertheless, this still flesh and blood covered a world of passions.

"You won't get a better offer for her, in this by-country," he was saying. "Who is there here, in her own station, except such as are unsuitable in years, or have no substance? Now I have my income as steward, which I am to keep, and am just stepping into the Beech farm; and I won't press on the marriage till I have the farm in hand, so

that she will at once be mistress of a household."

"Letty is very young for such a charge," replied Mr. Rivers, thoughtfully.

"Give her in promise-only in promise, and I will wait. I love her as Jacob loved Rachel, and can wait seven years, if need be. But there is no need."

"I don't know as to that. She would be only twenty-four when the seven years were up, and that was a year younger than her mother married."

"It isn't what her age

waiting. Think of it: Think of it man's life."

would be, but the

seven years
seven years in a

"You mentioned Jacob, and he thought it not too long."

"But men lived three lives in one at that time," said Luke Bradley, quickly. "Turn to Genesis," and he drew forth a pocketbible, "here it is, in chapter forty-seven, verse twenty-eight. And the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.' When the years were so many, what was it to wait the odd seven ? The

patriarch stayed as long for a flock of sheep!"

"Yet he pronounced his days few and evil!" observed Mr. Rivers, pensively, and as if his mind wandered from the subject.

"Because he was without the saving grace," returned Bradley, "for prophets and holy men have been without what is given freely to us. And the patriarch lived among heathen, among idolaters, worshippers of wood and stone, the work of men's hands. Not but what we are amidst evil too, and evil almost as great, while our days are still fewer. Were it not good, then, to place your daughter where her path will be straight, and where she may grow up as one of the polished corners of the temple, the wife of a God-fearing man, and a crown to yourself in your old years, as well as to her

husband ?"

"All that is out of our ruling. But I am satisfied for her to be your wife, and should be well pleased if you win her."

"I am thankful; very, very thankful to you, Mr. Rivers. Your words come to me

VOL. I.

2

like a blessing, and give me and give me new heart. Now I beseech you to say as much to Letty herself."

"Nay, I can't do that. You must speak in your own behalf, though you may say it has sanction. Here she comes, and you my can go in with us, and urge your suit at once, if you will."

"Not now, not to-night. In truth, I had rather you prepared the way for me; but since you think this unfitting, I will come to-morrow, when she knows I am invited to the sheep-shearing, and I will watch for some moment to plead with her. I shall now stop only to pay my respects to her and Mrs. Rivers."

And he went forward to meet the two ladies.