some much easier enthusiasm in the matter of his own engagement with Beatrice. He had not that perspicuous, but not over-sensitive strength of mind which had enabled Harry Baker to express his opinion out at once; and boldly as he did it, yet to do so without offence.
Four times before the train arrived in London, he made some little attempt; but four times he failed. As the subject was matrimony, it was his easiest course to begin about himself; but he never could get any farther.
'No man was ever more fortunate in a wife than I shall be,' he said, with a soft, euphuistic self-complacency, which would have been silly had it been adopted to any other person than the bride's brother. His intention, however, was very good, for he meant to show, that in his case marriage was prudent and wise, because his case differed so widely from that of Frank.
'Yes,' said Frank. 'She is an excellent good girl:' he had said it three times before, and was not very energetic.
'Yes, and so exactly suited to me; indeed, all that I could have dreamed of. How very well she looked this morning! Some girls only look well at night. I should not like that at all.'
'You mustn't expect her to look like that always at six o'clock a.m.,' said Frank, laughing. 'Young ladies only take that trouble on very particular occasions. She wouldn't have come down like that if my father or I had been going alone. No, and she won't do so for you in a couple of years' time.'
'Oh, but she's always nice. I have seen her at home as much almost as you could do; and then she's so sincerely religious.'
'Oh, yes, of course; that is, I am sure she is,' said Frank, looking solemn as became him.
'She's made to be a clergyman's wife.'
'Well, so it seems,' said Frank.
'A married life is, I'm sure, the happiest in the world—if people are only in a position to marry,' said Mr. Oriel, gradually drawing near to the accomplishment of his design.
'Yes; quite so. Do you know, Oriel, I never was so sleepy in my life. What with all that fuss of Gazebee's, and one thing and another, I could not get to bed till one o'clock; and then I couldn't sleep. I'll take a snooze now, if you won't think it uncivil.' And then, putting his feet upon the opposite seat, he settled himself comfortably to his rest. And so Mr. Oriel's last attempt for lecturing Frank in the railway-carriage faded away and was annihilated.
By twelve o'clock Frank was with Messrs. Slow and Bideawhile. Mr. Bideawhile was engaged at the moment, but he
