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He is sadly deteriorated； in a bodily sense； by the wasting rheumatic fever that brought him nigh to death； but he is still young； and the doctor （humanly speaking） has no doubt of his speedy and complete recovery。 My sister takes the opposite view。 She remarked； in his hearing； that nobody ever thoroughly got over a rheumatic fever。 Oh； Judith！ Judith！ it's well for humanity that you're a single person！ If haply； there had been any man desperate enough to tackle such a woman in the bonds of marriage； what a pessimist progeny must have proceeded from you！
Looking back over my Diary for the last two months and more； I see one monotonous record of the poor fellow's sufferings； cheered and varied； I am pleased to add； by the devoted services of my daughter at the sick man's bedside。 With some help from her aunt （most readily given when he was nearest to the point of death）； and with needful services performed in turn by two of our aged women in Cauldkirk； Felicia could not have nursed him more assiduously if he had been her own brother。 Half the credit of bringing him through it belonged （as the doctor himself confessed） to the discreet young nurse； always ready through the worst of the illness； and always cheerful through the long convalescence that followed。 I must also record to the credit of Marmaduke that he was indeed duly grateful。 When I led him into the parlor； and he saw Felicia waiting by the armchair； smiling and patting the pillows for him； he took her by the hand； and burst out crying。 Weakness； in part； no doubtbut sincere gratitude at the bottom of it； I am equally sure。
November 29th。However； there are limits even to sincere gratitude。 Of this truth Mr。 Marmaduke seems to be insufficiently aware。 Entering the sitting…room soon after noon today； I found our convalescen t guest and his nurse alone。 His head was resting on her shoulder； his arm was round her waistand （the truth before everything） Felicia was kissing him。
A man may be of a liberal turn of mind； and may yet consistently object to freedom when it takes the form of unlicensed embracing and kissing； the person being his own daughter； and the place his own house。 I signed to my girl to leave us； and I advanced to Mr。 Marmaduke； with my opinion of his conduct just rising in words to my lipswhen he staggered me with amazement by asking for Felicia's hand in marriage。
〃You need feel no doubt of my being able to offer to your daughter a position of comfort and respectability；〃 he said。 〃I have a settled income of eight hundred pounds a year。〃
His raptures over Felicia； his protestations that she was the first woman he had ever really loved； his profane declaration that he preferred to die； if I refused to let him be her husbandall these flourishes； as I may call them； passed in at one of my ears and out at the other。 But eight hundred pounds sterling per annum； descending as it were in a golden avalanche on the mind of a Scottish minister （accustomed to thirty years' annual contemplation of seventy…four pounds）eight hundred a year； in one young man's pocket； I say； completely overpowered me。 I just managed to answer； 〃Wait till tomorrow〃 and hurried out of doors to recover my self…respect； if the thing was to be anywise done。 I took my way through the valley。 The sun was shining； for a wonder。 When I saw my shadow on the hillside； I saw the Golden Calf as an integral part of me； bearing this inscription in letters of flame〃Here's another of them！〃
_November 30th。_I have made amends for yesterday's backsliding； I have acted as becomes my parental dignity and my sacred calling。
The temptation to do otherwise； has not been wanting。 Here is sister Judith's advice： 〃Make sure that he has got the money first； and； for Heaven's sake； nail him！〃 Here is Mr。 Marmaduke's proposal： 〃Make any conditions you please； so long as you give me your daughter。〃 And； lastly； here is Felicia's confession： 〃Father； my heart is set on him。 Oh； don't be unkind to me for the first time in your life！〃
But I have stood firm。 I have refused to hear any more words on the subject from any one of them； for the next six months to come。
〃So serious a venture as the venture of marriage；〃 I said； 〃is not to be undertaken on impulse。 As soon as Mr。 Marmaduke can travel； I request him to leave us； and not to return again for six months。 If； after that interval； he is still of the same mind； and my daughter is still of the same mind； let him return to Cauldkirk； and （premising that I am in all other respects satisfied） let him ask me for his wife。〃
There were tears； there were protestations； I remained immovable。 A week later； Mr。 Marmaduke left us； on his way by easy stages to the south。 I am not a hard man。 I rewarded the lovers for their obedience by keeping sister Judith out of the way； and letting them say their farewell words （accompaniments included） in private。
III。
May 28th。A letter from Mr。 Marmaduke； informing me that I may expect him at Cauldkirk； exactly at the expiration of the six months' intervalviz。； on June the seventh。
Writing to this effect； he added a timely word on the subject of his family。 Both his parents were dead； his only brother held a civil appointment in India； the place being named。 His uncle （his father's brother） was a merchant resident in London； and to this near relative he referred me； if I wished to make inquiries about him。 The names of his bankers； authorized to give me every information in respect to his pecuniary affairs； followed。 Nothing could be more plain and straightforward。 I wrote to his uncle； and I wrote to his bankers。 In both cases the replies were perfectly satisfactorynothing in the slightest degree doubtful； no prevarications； no mysteries。 In a word； Mr。 Marmaduke himself was thoroughly well vouched for； and Mr。 Marmaduke's income was invested in securities beyond fear and beyond reproach。 Even sister Judith； bent on picking a hole in the record somewhere； tried hard； and could make nothing of it。
The last sentence in Mr。 Marmaduke's letter was the only part of it which I failed to read with pleasure。
He left it to me to fix the day for the marriage； and he entreated that I would make it as early a day as possible。 I had a touch of the heartache when I thought of parting with Felicia； and being left at home with nobody but Judith。 However； I got over it for that time； and； after consulting my daughter； we decided on naming a fortnight after Mr。 Marmaduke's arrivalthat is to say； the twenty…first of June。 This gave Felicia time for her preparations； besides offering to me the opportunity of becoming better acquainted with my son…in…law's disposition。 The happiest marriage does indubitably make its demands on human forbearance； and I was anxious； among other things； to assure myself of Mr。 Marmaduke's good temper。
IV。
June 22d。The happy change in my daughter's life （let me say nothing of the change in _my_ life） has come： they were married yesterday。 The manse is a desert； and sister Judith was never so uncongenial a companion to me as I feel her to be now。 Her last words to the married pair； when they drove away； were： 〃Lord help you both； you have all your troubles before you！〃
I ha