CHAPTER XI.-NEGOTIATIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 209, 11 September 1873, Page 2

CHAPTER XI.-NEGOTIATIONS.

Mft S* Qifggtf *'i lettef was a Tery proper on© under theoi.rouiftsi*jw#*- I» spid wore of the writer's feelings and hopes, apd of tlie recipient's merits and attractions, and lesa of the many equiTalwt advantages in h» power to bestow than was actually in hi» thoughts ; but that wu all a* it should be. There w*s a very proper reference to. the disparity pf ag» which might, he feared, render hi» addresses unwelpome to Mis* Clint ; and »n assurance that should this not pvoTe an insurmountable obstacle, she should experience to the full qII the happiness which being 'an old man's darling 1 pould confer. It was wisely and gracefullj done, and it told immensely with Miriam ; though she guessed , correctly, thq,t Mr St Quentin. did not suspect sbt bad dinned his real ago. The proper amount of sentiment, and as much good sense as could coexist with the contemplation of such a marriage- at all, combined to make the letter a very creditable production ; and Miriam, worldly minded, ambitious, and untaught by any true lore as she was, felt, on reading it, that ahe had achieved her purpose — gained a great prige. If Miss Clint would permit him, to do so,. Mr St Quentin proposed to call on Mr Clint on the following morning, so that, should all things cohere according to bis most ardent * wishes, he might have the happiness of appearing at the dinner-party (which was to include the customary guests, only) in the character of her accepted suitor. It was all perfectly proper and business-like, but i<i filled Florence with painful amazement and misgiving. Humble as her little romance had been, there was genuine feeling, truepoetry, the ' purple light of lore' in it. What there was in this she did not like, she could not approve, she was forced to fear. Miriam was not at all concerned respecting her father's probable sentiments. If he opposed this marriage,, she would have plenty of courage to oppose him. With the prospect of emancipation before her,, her fear of him finally vanished. Miriam's reply to Mr St Quentin's letter was in its turn a model of propriety, though it was as unlike anything she would once have imagined as her first letter to her futurehusband as it could possibly be. It was as follows : — Deak Mr St Quentut,— l consider myself honored by your letter ; and I have no objection to your calling on my father to-morrow in order to discuss the subject of it with, him. — Yours very sincerely, Mißiiy Cunt. ™ She hapded the open sheet on which those hues were written, in her firm large hand, to Florence, who read them slowly, and handed the paper back to he.r. 'Miriam,' she said, infringing her own rule for the first time, ' can you not wait a little ? You have sees so.few people as yet. You. spoke of this as a way of escape. Granted — but it is not the only wajj — another, and • better* may come.' ' No, no,' said Miriam, m she carefully folded, sealed, and, directed her letter. ' I must not trifle with fortune. I am. not at all likely so get such a chance as this again.' Sbs despatched the letter ; and Florence fait that the last word bad been spoken. It was not until Miriam hid left her, to go down to dinner, that Florence thought of her own, possible or probable share in the matter. How might it affect her? What alteration might it produce in the position in which Walter had left her? Would it be in Mir;amV power to continue to proteot her ? These were painful but inevitable speculations ; and Florenot sat absorbed in tbem X waiting for Miriam's return. When Miriam found herself alone with her father on the conclusion of, their dinner, she addressed him with a degree of composure which surprised herself. ' Papa,' she said, ' I have something particular to say to. you. A circumstance baa occurred which concerns nje very nearly.' ' Indeed ! What's the. citcumstanc*?' 1 Mr St Quentin has asked mo to marry hire.' ' What ? Mr St Quentin, a wan who is fully as old as X| am, and, I suspect, a trifle older, propose to a girl of not quite nineteen ! What does he mean ?' ' What he says, I presume. Pray, let me speak, papa,, and let m understand each other. Mr St Quentin, who is,, as you say, very much older than I am, but whom I respect and esteem, has asked me to marry him. If you have no objection to my doing so, except Mr St Quentin's age, that concerns me only, and I do not regard it as aq objection.' 1 Oh, you don't, don't you ? You're not a sentimental young lady then, at least.' ' No, papa, lam not a sentimental youjig lajdy ; I bare no. nonsense of that kind about me ; and lam very anxious to. haie a house of mj ovn ; since I am speaking to you about, myself, I may as well speak plainly, and above-board. lam not happy here ; I never expected to be happy, a.qd,l am not so ; and I hope you wilt not refuse to let me avail myself of this means of leaving your home creditably.' ' Which moans, I conclude, that otherwise you will contrive to leave it discreditably, like your precious brother ! ' Mr Clint had risen, and in as walking about the room with, quick strides. Miriam, whose face was very pale and set,,, and in whose eyes there was an expression unfamiliar to herfather, replied quietly, ' I have long ago come to the resolution not to discuss Walter or his conduct with, you, papa, and by that resolution I metn to abide. In this matter he is not concerned, and he need not be mentioned. lam quite sure you do not care for my remaining with you, and I will, tell you plainly I am most anxious to get away.' ' I have certainly; been blessed with a. pair of dutiful, children,' said Mr Clint bitterly, but to Miriam's great relief, not violently. ' However, that is not worth discussing. I understand you wish to obtain j»j consent to your marrying this Mr St Quentin, a man as old, as I am, of whom we know nothing but that he talks of himself as wealthy, and; •eeuis to have plenty of money. You " respect and esteem " him, do you ? A very pretty phrase ; but it means that you covet his money, and think, by marrying him, ypu will; secure the kind of life you fancy you would like, and your own way in. everything.' ' I daresay you may be right papa, but that is beside, the question. The friends who introduced Mr St Quentin to Mr and Mn Cooke are well acquainted with his position and, fortune. They are what he represents them.. Ido not think, you can have looked forward to any better provision for me than the one he offers me, and I wish to know whether you will receive him in, accordance with bis request to-morrow ?' Her father took two or three turns in silence, before hereplied : ' There's not much room for discussipn., Miriam. If I have not been very kind to you, according to yournotions, at least I have sot troubled you with much advice or dictation. I don't mean to do so now. Let Mr St Quentin satisfy m,e that he. has the fortune he pretends to. have, and let him make a handsome settlement on you, and , I shall not prevent your mapryijig hioij though I'm cursed if I can understand you.' Miriam instantly rose. *-^ 1 Thank you, papa,' she said calmly j ' that is all I require. 1 shall tell Mr St Quentin you will see- him.' ' You had better tell him my terms too,' shouted Mr Clint; but Miriam bad already passed through the doorand might pretend to be out of hearing. Miriam was in a strange mood all that evening. Sometimes she was pleased and excited, chattering to Florence about London, her intention of having a house there, her carnages and horses, her drest and her amusements ; but above ajl, the delicious prospect of leaving the Firs. Then she would talk of Walter, of all she meant to do for him, how he should come home, and he and Florence live with her, until all should be set right with his father, and everything arranged as it ought to be. Florence was not very much more experienced in the *ays of the- world than,, Miriam, but she bad a clear perception that this was all: romance and imagination, and she ventured to suggest to-, Miriam that perhaps Mr St Quentin might not see those matters in the same light. .But Miriam would not listen to a doubt on that point. She did not put her sentiments into so distinct a formula ; but what she meant was this — ' I am, going to marry an. old man for his money, and to get my own way, and it would be rather too. bad if I could not make him do precisely as I please.' Then Florence , seeing that she could not. make any impression upon her, was forced to content herself with reminding Miriam thajt no revelation of her secret must bo made to Mr St Quentin without Walter's consent, which it would take some time to. obtain. To, this Miriam assented, and then Florence approached the subject which had occupied her thoughts anxiously. ' What is to become of me ?' she said, ' during the interval before we can hear from Walter ? I suppose your marriage will soon take place.' ' I suppose so,' replied Miriara. ' But of course, I can't tell. But Bose, thero need be no trouble or difficulty about you. You will be under less difficulties when lam in a house of my own, than you are here. Then I can arrange so that there shall be nothing at all unpleasant in your position, and we will soon be able to announce the truth.'

.Female Dentist. — A young lady has just received the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Baltimore Dental College. It will beat ether and render chloroform ridiculous to have the teeth manipulated by fairy fingen, albeit they bear the murderous forceps. If every female dentist should be particularly beautiful, what an immense number of toothless young men there will be. Caution to Winb-bibbbbs.—" look not on the wine when it it red , w hen it giveth its colour in the cup." Sabitual drinkers of Burgundy and other red" wine§ are cautioned, remarks the British Medical Journal, to abstain in time, before they are poiioned. Dr Chalet, a Trench chemist (Druggists' Advocate) states that rosanihne, which is used lor colouring red wines, contains arsenic ; and that, if taken constantly, it will give rise, by accumulation, to poisonings Tin* it u cheerful prospect, for invalids, who are ordered {o drink claret regujtylj.