No More Learning

'I was very miserable; I invited Howard to stay with
us. One morning I found a note on the smoking-room table to say that
Margaret had accepted him, and I have come here to ask you to marry me.
I never cared for anyone else. '

He found himself speaking hurriedly, as though anxious to get the
words said and done with. It now seemed to him that he had done ill
in this matter of Miss Leland. He had not before thought of it--his
mind had always been busy with other things. Mary Carton looked at him
wonderingly.

'John,' she said at last, 'did you ask Mr. Howard to stay with you on
purpose to get him to fall in love with Miss Leland, or to give you an
excuse for breaking off your engagement, as you knew he flirted with
everyone? '

'Margaret seems very fond of him. I think they are made for each
other,' he answered.

'Did you ask him to London on purpose? '

'Well, I will tell you,' he faltered. 'I was very miserable. I had
drifted into this engagement I don't know how.
Margaret glitters and
glitters and glitters, but she is not of my kind. I suppose I thought,
like a fool, I should marry someone who was rich. I found out soon that
I loved nobody but you. I got to be always thinking of you and of this
town. Then I heard that Howard had lost his curacy, and asked him up.
I just left them alone and did not go near Margaret much. I knew they
were made for each other. Do not let us talk of them,' he continued,
eagerly. 'Let us talk about the future. I will take a farm and turn
farmer. I dare say my uncle will not give me anything when he dies
because I have left his office. He will call me a ne'er-do-weel, and
say I would squander it. But you and I--we will get married, will we
not? We will be very happy,' he went on, pleadingly. 'You will still
have your charities, and I shall be busy with my farm. We will surround
ourselves with a wall.