Page 444 of 896

"And so," said Mr. Lorry, who could not sufficiently admire the

bride, and who had been moving round her to take in every point

of her quiet, pretty dress; "and so it was for this, my sweet

Lucie, that I brought you across the Channel, such a baby! Lord

bless me! How little I thought what I was doing! How lightly I

valued the obligation I was conferring on my friend Mr. Charles!"

"You didn't mean it," remarked the matter-of-fact Miss Pross,

"and therefore how could you know it? Nonsense!"

"Really? Well; but don't cry," said the gentle Mr. Lorry.

"I am not crying," said Miss Pross; "you are."

"I, my Pross?" (By this time, Mr. Lorry dared to be pleasant with

her, on occasion.)

"You were, just now; I saw you do it, and I don't wonder at it.

Such a present of plate as you have made 'em, is enough to bring

tears into anybody's eyes. There's not a fork or a spoon in the

collection," said Miss Pross, "that I didn't cry over, last night

after the box came, till I couldn't see it."