And he is manly
and handsome; just what a man should be. Only he is not rich.'
'If he be all that you say, ought you not to trust your papa? If
he approve of it, he should give you money.'
'Of course he must be told; but not now. He is nearly broken-
hearted about dear mamma. He could not bring himself to care about
anything of that kind at present. And then it is Mr Tregear that
should speak to him first.'
'Not now, Mary.'
'How do you mean not now?'
'If you had a mother you would talk to her about it.'
'Mamma knew.'
'If she were still living she would tell your father.'
'But she didn't tell him, though she did know. She didn't mean to
tell him quite yet. She wanted to see Mr Tregear here in England
first. Of course I shall do nothing till papa does know.'
'You will not see him?'
'How can I see him here? He will not come here, if you mean
that.'
'You do not correspond with him?' Here for the first time the
girl blushed. 'Oh, Mary! if you are writing to him your father
ought to know it.'
'I have not written to him; but when he heard how ill poor mamma
was, then he wrote to me--twice.
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