INGATH'S VOOER. 361 



absorbing pleasure that it can neither relinquish its 

 desire nor find comfort in change. 



But while we moralise, our middle-aged couple are 

 waiting among the rocks with a " proposal " only half 

 settled, and we ought to remember that the dews of 

 evening are supposed to be dangerous to people of 

 their years ! 



Miss Ingath remembered that fact, and gently 

 suggested it was time they should return to the 

 house. 



And now that she had actually heard a confession 

 of love, and had more than half accepted the suitor, 

 she began to find that there was much joy, much 

 sweetness, much rapture in being made the idol of a 

 man's affection. 



On that memorable night Miss Ingath returned to 

 Orgert very bewildered, but happy, and almost certain 

 that she was falling (if she had not already fallen) in 

 love, but considerably perplexed how to overcome the 

 prejudices of caste. What would her sister say ? 

 What would all her blue-blooded neighbours say ? 

 But Ingath's heart, having arrayed itself on Mr. 

 Nemo's side, replied to all such questions by saying 

 to herself, " Osla did not study your feelings when the 

 sale of Orgert was arranged, and you are not obliged 

 to study her opinions when choosing a husband. As 

 for your neighbours, many a girl, as well as old maid, 

 among them would right willingly exchange her own 

 name for the good-looking, wealthy nobody who wants 

 you for his wife, and who may not unlikely make one 



