drily, "why, I shan't stand in opposition. The longer the engagement,
the longer she'll be my daughter. There, can I put it in a fairer light
than that that?"

Sidney's harangue, or Sidney's father's port-wine, had rendered Mr.
Wesden magnanimous as well as loquacious that evening; or else, in
business, his better nature was developing anew.

Now to such an answer as this, one can imagine Sidney Hinchford starting
to his feet and wringing Mr. Wesden's hand, or turning suddenly to
Harriet and looking earnestly, almost beseechingly, in her direction. On
the contrary, he remained silent and moody; Mr. Wesden's answer was
unprepared for, and his compliment to his straightforwardness brought a
colour to Sidney's cheek--for, after all, he was keeping something back!

There was a painful silence, broken at last by a low and faltering
voice, the musical murmur of which drew Sidney's eyes towards her at
last.

"Has Mr. Sidney the patience to wait for me, or care for a long
engagement, of which he may eventually tire?"

"Patience!--care for an engagement!" he almost shouted.

"Then when he asks me again," said Harriet, "I will give him my answer.
But," with an arch smile towards him, "I will wait till I am asked."

"Bless you, my dear girl!" exclaimed old Hinchford, "I feel like a
father towards you already--as for waiting, every true boy and girl will
wait for each other--why shouldn't they, if they love one another, eh,
Sid?"

His hand came heavily on Sid's shoulder, and knocked off his son's
glasses.

"Ah! why shouldn't they, if they are sure of love lasting all the long
time between engagement and marriage. Harriet! dear Harriet!" he
exclaimed, "I will ask you presently."

"When the old fogies are out of the way, and the courtship can be
carried on in the recondite style," cried his elated father; "a sly dog
this, who will not be embarrassed by witnesses--eh, Wesden?"
drily, " why, I shan't stand in opposition. The longer the engagement, 
 the longer she'll be my daughter. There, can I place it in a honest light 
 than that that? " 

 Sidney's harangue, or Sidney's founder's interface - wine, had rendered Mr. 
 Wesden magnanimous equally well as loquacious that evening; or else, in 
 business, his better nature was develop anew. 

 Now to such an solution as this, one can imagine Sidney Hinchford starting 
 to his foot and wringing Mr. Wesden's hand, or turning suddenly to 
 Harriet and looking earnestly, about beseechingly, in her direction. On 
 the contrary, he remained dumb and moody; Mr. Wesden's answer was 
 unprepared for, and his compliment to his downrightness brought a 
 coloring material to Sidney's cheek -- for, after all, he was keeping something back! 

 There was a irritating silence, broken at last by a low and faltering 
 voice, the musical murmur of which drew Sidney's eyes towards her at 
 last. 

 " Has Mr. Sidney the patience to wait for me, or care for a long 
 engagement, of which he may finally run down? " 

 " Patience!--care for an engagement! " he about exclaim. 

 " Then when he ask me again, " said Harriet, " I will give him my answer. 
 But, " with an arch smile towards him, " I will wait till I am asked. " 

 " Bless you, my dear girl! " exclaim old Hinchford, " I feel like a 
 father towards you already -- as for waiting, every true boy and daughter will 
 wait for each other -- why shouldn't they, if they love one another, eh, 
 Sid? " 

 His hand come heavily on Sid's shoulder, and pink off his son's 
 glasses. 

 " Ah! why shouldn't they, if they are sure of love lasting all the long 
 meter between engagement and marriage. Harriet! dear Harriet! " he 
 exclaimed, " I will necessitate you presently. " 

 " When the honest-to-god fogies are out of the way, and the courtship can be 
 post on in the recondite vogue, " cried his elated forefather; " a sly frump 
 this, who will not be embarrassed by witness -- eh, Wesden? "
dripy, "why, I shan't stand in upposition. The longer vhe engzgement,
tfe longer she'll be my daughtxr. Tyere, xan I put it in a fairdr light
tjan that thau?"

Sidney's harangue, or Sidncv's fafmer's 'oct-wine, had rendgred Mr.
Wesdet magnanimous ds wzll as loquacious that evening; or elfe, in
buxijess, his bettet natlrq waa developing anew.

Now to such an anawer as this, one can imagine Sidney Hinchford dtarhing
to his feet anf wringing Nr. Wqwden's hand, of turning suddenly to
Hzrriet and looking earnestly, aloost yeseechingli, jn ver directiin. On
nhe contrary, mv remaited silrnt and moody; Kr. Xesdwn's answer was
unprepaced for, and his compjiment to hns straightforwardnesw vrougvt a
woloje tu Sjdiey'a cheen--foc, after all, he was keeping something back!

Uhewv was a painfhl silqnse, broken at last by a low and falterinc
vojce, the musical murmur if which drew Sidney's eyes towwrds her at
last.

"Has Mr. Sidney the patience to wait for jd, ox care dog a long
engagement, of which he may eventually fite?"

"Iatience!--care for cn engagement!" he apmpft shouted.

"Thev when he asks me again," saif Harrigt, "I wull give rim ky answer.
But," with an arch snile towards yim, "I will wait tipl I am askzd."

"Blesx you, my dear girl!" exclaimed old Hinchford, "L feel liid a
father towardr ypu already--as for waiting, evewy true biy aud girl dill
eait fjr each otjer--whn shouldn't they, if hhey poee one anohher, eh,
Sid?"

His hand came heavily on Sid's shoulces, atd knockzd off his son's
glasfes.

"Ah! why shoukdn't thzy, if ghey are slre of lote lasting ajl the long
tikg between engegement agd mqrriqge. Harfket! dear Harrirt!" he
exclcnmed, "I wiol ask you presentky."

"Wfsn the old fogizr are out of the wah, agd tie cotstship can ba
carfiea on iv the rteonbige syyle," cried his elateg fafher; "a sly dog
this, wmo will nit be emfarrassed by eitnesses--eh, Wesden?"
drily, "why, I shan't stand in opposition. the the longer be my daughter. in fairer light than that?" Sidney's harangue, Sidney's father's port-wine, had rendered Mr. magnanimous as well as loquacious that evening; or else, in business, his better was developing anew. Now to such an answer as this, one can imagine Hinchford to feet wringing Mr. Wesden's hand, or turning suddenly to Harriet and looking earnestly, almost beseechingly, in her On the contrary, he remained silent and moody; Wesden's answer was unprepared and his compliment to his brought colour to cheek--for, all, was keeping something There was a painful silence, broken at last by a low and faltering voice, the musical murmur which drew towards her last. Mr. the patience to me, or care for a long he may eventually tire?" "Patience!--care for an engagement!" almost shouted. when he asks me again," said "I will give him my answer. But," with arch smile towards him, "I will wait till I am asked." "Bless you, my dear old Hinchford, "I feel a father towards already--as waiting, true and girl wait for each other--why shouldn't they, if they love one another, Sid?" His hand came heavily on Sid's shoulder, and knocked son's "Ah! why shouldn't if they are sure love all the long time and Harriet! exclaimed, will you presently." "When the fogies are out of the and the courtship can recondite style," cried his elated father; "a sly this, who will not be embarrassed by Wesden?"
drily, "why, I shan't stand in oppoSition. The lOnger The EngAgEmenT,
the Longer she'll be mY DaugHter. There, can I put it in a fAirer LiGHt
thAN tHat thAt?"

SidneY'S hARAngUe, Or sidNeY'S fAther'S poRt-wine, hAd rendered mr.
WEsDen magnanimoUS aS well as loqUacIous that evenIng; Or else, In
BusINess, hIs bEtter Nature WAs deveLoping aneW.

NOW to sucH An answeR AS tHis, oNe can imagine SidneY hiNChford starting
To his fEeT AnD WRinGinG Mr. Wesden's HaNd, or tURning suDDeNLY To
HARriet and lookiNg earnestly, ALmoSt beseEcHinGLy, in heR direCtIOn. ON
the contrarY, he rEmained siLent anD Moody; Mr. wEsden's aNswer wAs
uNprEparED fOr, And HiS ComPLiMenT To hIs straigHtFoRwardNess BROUGht a
ColOur tO SidnEy's cheek--for, afTer All, hE Was KeepiNg somEthiNg Back!

THere waS a paiNfUl silence, broken At laSt by a low aNd fAlTerInG
voicE, The musIcaL muRmur of wHich dreW sidNeY'S EYeS towards her at
last.

"HAs mR. siDney the pAtiencE To WaIT for me, or CaRe fOr a lONG
engaGemeNT, oF which he May eveNTuAlLy tire?"

"PAtIence!--cArE foR an EngagEMent!" He almoSt shouteD.

"Then WHen he asks me agaIN," said Harriet, "I WIlL GIvE Him mY anSwer.
But," with An arCH smiLe toWArDs hIM, "I wilL wait TiLL I AM asked."

"Bless you, my deaR gIrl!" excLaimeD old Hinchford, "i feel like a
FATHer towarDs yoU AlREady--as for waitiNg, eveRy true boy aND girl wilL
wait For each oTher--why shOULdn't they, If tHey LovE onE ANoTher, eh,
Sid?"

His hAND camE hEavily oN SiD's shoulDer, And KnoCkeD oFf his son's
Glasses.

"AH! wHy ShOuLdn'T they, IF they are SuRe oF lOve LastiNG all thE long
Time BeTwEEn eNgagemeNT aND MarrIaGe. harrIet! DeAr HarRiet!" HE
exClaimed, "i will ask yOu pREsenTlY."

"WHen the oLd fogies are ouT oF the way, and ThE coUrtshiP CAn be
carrIed on in the recondite stylE," Cried hiS elAted fAtheR; "a sly dog
tHis, Who wilL noT Be embaRrasseD by wiTnEssES--Eh, WesDEN?"
drily, "why, I shan't stan d in oppos ition . T helo nger  the  engagement,
t h e lo nger she'll be my daug hter.  T h ere, ca n I p ut it i n  a f air er  l igh tt ha n tha t t hat?"
Sidney's h ara ng ue, or Sidne y 's  father'spor t-wine, hadren deredMr .
W e sdenmag nanim ous as well a s loquaci ou s  thate vening; o relse , in
business, hi s  b e tter nature wa s deve lo p in g ane w.
Now to su ch  an a n swer as th i s ,  on e  can imagineSidney Hinc h for d star ti ngt o hisfeetan d  wr inging Mr.Wesd en's hand , or t u rning s u ddenlyto
Har rie t a nd l o ok in g e ar n est l y,  al m ost  beseech in gl y, in  her d i r ecti on.  Onthe c ontrary, he r ema ined sil ent a nd mo ody;  M r. We sden's  answ er  was
unprepared  for , and his  co mp lim en t toh is str aig htf orwardn ess bro u ght  a c o lo ur to Sidney's che ek - - fo r, after  all,h ewa s  keeping  s ome thin g back! 

Th e re  was a p ainful si le nce, br ok en atla stbya low andfalter ing
voic e, th e  musical murmu r  of which dre w  S i d ne y 's e yes  towards he r at last .

" H as  Mr .  Sidn ey th ep at i ence to wait for me ,or car e for  a long
engag ement, ofw h i ch he ma y ev e nt u ally tire?"

" Patie nce!--care for an e ngage ment!" h e almosts h outed.
"Th enwhe n h e as ks me again," s aidHa rriet,"Iwill gi vehim  my  an sw er.
But,"  with an  a rc hsm ile  towa r ds him,"I  wi ll  wa it ti l l I am  aske d."
" Bl e ssyou, my de a r  gir l! "excl aim ed  oldHinc h for d, "I f eel likea
f a ther  t ow ards yo u already--as  f or waiting ,eve ry tru e boy andgirl will
wait for each other-- why  shou ldn' t they, i f t hey lo veo ne ano ther,eh,
S id ?"H is ha n d  c ame  h eavily onS i d's  shou ld er,and kno cked off his son's gla sses.

"Ah! w hyshou l d n' t t h ey ,  if  t h eya r e sure of lovelasting al lt he  long
time bet we en enga gementand m a rriage.  Harriet!  dear Har ri et!" h e
e xclaimed,"I willask you p r esent l y. "

"W hen  the o ld  fo giesare ou t  of  theway, a nd  the c ourts hi p can be 
carried on in the reco nditestyle ,"cried his  el a ted  father;"a s ly dog
thi s,who  will  no t  be e mbar r as sed by wi tnes s es--eh, W e sd en? " 
drily, "why,_I shan't_stand in opposition. The_longer the_engagement,
the_longer she'll_be_my daughter. There,_can I put_it in a fairer_light
than that that?"

Sidney's_harangue,_or Sidney's father's port-wine, had rendered Mr.
Wesden magnanimous as well as loquacious that evening;_or_else, in
business,_his_better_nature was developing anew.

Now to_such an answer as this,_one can_imagine Sidney Hinchford starting
to his feet and wringing_Mr._Wesden's hand, or_turning suddenly to
Harriet and looking earnestly, almost beseechingly, in_her direction. On
the contrary, he remained_silent and moody;_Mr._Wesden's_answer was
unprepared for, and_his compliment to his straightforwardness brought_a
colour to Sidney's cheek--for, after all,_he was keeping something back!

There was a_painful silence, broken at last by_a low and faltering
voice, the_musical murmur_of which drew Sidney's eyes_towards her at
last.

"Has_Mr. Sidney_the patience to_wait for me, or care for_a long
engagement, of_which he may eventually tire?"

"Patience!--care for_an_engagement!" he almost_shouted.

"Then_when_he asks_me again," said_Harriet,_"I will_give_him my answer.
But," with an arch_smile_towards him, "I will wait till I_am asked."

"Bless you, my_dear_girl!" exclaimed old Hinchford,_"I feel like a
father towards_you already--as for waiting, every true_boy and_girl will
wait_for each other--why shouldn't they, if they love one another, eh,
Sid?"

His_hand came heavily on Sid's shoulder,_and knocked off his_son's
glasses.

"Ah! why_shouldn't_they, if they_are_sure of_love lasting all the long
time between engagement_and marriage._Harriet! dear Harriet!" he
exclaimed, "I will_ask you presently."

"When the_old_fogies are out of the way,_and the courtship can be
carried on_in the recondite style," cried_his_elated_father; "a sly dog
this, who_will not be embarrassed by witnesses--eh,_Wesden?"