also of an opinion as to what had been the wishes of her friend, and this she must do without being able to say any thing as to the wishes of that third person.
"Well," she said, "I suppose you know what I meant."
"I suppose I did," said Miss Dunstable; "but it is not at all the less necessary that you should say it out. I am not to commit myself by my interpretation of your thoughts, while you remain perfectly secure in having only hinted your own. I hate hints, as I do—the mischief. I go in for the bishop's doctrine—Magna est veritas."
"Well, I don't know," said Mrs. Gresham.
"Ah! but I do," said Miss Dunstable. "And therefore go on, or forever hold your peace."
"That's just it," said Mrs. Gresham.
"What's just it?" said Miss Dunstable.
"The quotation out of the Prayer-book which you finished just now. 'If any of you know cause or just impediment why these two persons should not be joined together in holy matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the first time of asking.' Do you know any cause, Miss Dunstable?"
"Do you know any, Mrs. Gresham?"
"None, on my honor!" said the younger lady, putting her hand upon her breast.
"Ah! but do you not?" and Miss Dunstable caught hold of her arm, and spoke almost abruptly in her energy.
"No, certainly not. What impediment? If I did, I should not have broached the subject. I declare I think you would both be very happy together. Of course, there is one impediment; we all know that. That must be your look out."
"What do you mean? What impediment?"
"Your own money."
"Psha! Did you find that an impediment in marrying Frank Gresham?"
"Ah! the matter was so different there. He had much more to give than I had, when all was counted. And I had no money when we—when we were first engaged." And the tears came into her eyes as she thought of the circumstances of her early love, all of which have been narrated in the county chronicles of Barsetshire, and may now be read by men and women interested therein.
"Yes, yours was a love match. I declare, Mary, I often think that you are the happiest woman of whom I ever
