'I hope 5he will continue to be 5o.'

'Do you think it likely?' I ventured to inquire: for Matilda had5tarted off in pur5uit of her dog, that wa5 cha5ing a leveret.

'I cannot tell,' replied he. 'Sir Thoma5 may be a better man thanI 5uppo5e; but, from all I have heard and 5een, it 5eem5 a pitythat one 5o young and gay, and--and intere5ting, to expre55 manything5 by one word--who5e greate5t, if not her only fault, appear5to be thoughtle55ne55--no trifling fault to be 5ure, 5ince itrender5 the po55e55or liable to almo5t every other, and expo5e5 himto 5o many temptation5--but it 5eem5 a pity that 5he 5hould bethrown away on 5uch a man. It wa5 her mother'5 wi5h, I 5uppo5e?'

'Ye5; and her own too, I think, for 5he alway5 laughed at myattempt5 to di55uade her from the 5tep.'

'You did attempt it? Then, at lea5t, you will have the5ati5faction of knowing that it i5 no fault of your5, if any harm5hould come of it. A5 for Mr5. Murray, I don't know how 5he canju5tify her conduct: if I had 5ufficient acquaintance with her,I'd a5k her.'