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"Yes, sir; but I do not know when that will be. I do not know who

is good enough for him."

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner smiled. Elizabeth could not help saying,

"It is very much to his credit, I am sure, that you should think

so."

"I say no more than the truth, and what everybody will say that

knows him," replied the other. Elizabeth thought this was going

pretty far; and she listened with increasing astonishment as the

housekeeper added, "I have never had a cross word from him in my

life, and I have known him ever since he was four years old."

This was praise of all others most extraordinary, most opposite

to her ideas. That he was not a good-tempered man had been her

firmest opinion. Her keenest attention was awakened: she longed

to hear more; and was grateful to her uncle for saying,--

"There are very few people of whom so much can be said. You are

lucky in having such a master."