ItwasnotmanyweeksafterthisbeforeIwasaboutthehouse
　　again，andbegantogrowwell；butIcontinuedmelancholy，
　　silent，dull，andretired，whichamazedthewholefamily，except
　　hethatknewthereasonofit；yetitwasagreatwhilebefore
　　hetookanynoticeofit，andI，asbackwardtospeakashe，
　　carriedrespectfullytohim，butneverofferedtospeakaword
　　tohimthatwasparticularofanykindwhatsoever；andthis
　　continuedforsixteenorseventeenweeks；sothat，asIexpected
　　everydaytobedismissedthefamily，onaccountofwhat
　　distastetheyhadtakenanotherway，inwhichIhadnoguilt，
　　soIexpectedtohearnomoreofthisgentleman，afterallhis
　　solemnvowsandprotestations，buttoberuinedandabandoned。
　　AtlastIbrokethewaymyselfinthefamilyformyremoving；
　　forbeingtalkingseriouslywiththeoldladyoneday，about
　　myowncircumstancesintheworld，andhowmydistemper
　　hadleftaheavinessuponmyspirits，thatIwasnotthesame
　　thingIwasbefore，theoldladysaid，’Iamafraid，Betty，what
　　Ihavesaidtoyouaboutmysonhashadsomeinfluenceupon
　　you，andthatyouaremelancholyonhisaccount；pray，will
　　youletmeknowhowthematterstandswithyouboth，ifit
　　maynotbeimproper？
　　For，asforRobin，hedoesnothingbut
　　rallyandbanterwhenIspeakofittohim。’
　　’Why，truly，
　　madam，’saidI’thatmatterstandsasIwishitdidnot，andI
　　shallbeverysincerewithyouinit，whateverbefallsmeforit。
　　Mr。Roberthasseveraltimesproposedmarriagetome，which
　　iswhatIhadnoreasontoexpect，mypoorcircumstances
　　considered；butIhavealwaysresistedhim，andthatperhaps
　　intermsmorepositivethanbecameme，consideringtheregard
　　thatIoughttohaveforeverybranchofyourfamily；but，’said
　　I，’madam，Icouldneversofarforgetmyobligationtoyou
　　andallyourhouse，tooffertoconsenttoathingwhichIknow
　　mustneedsbedisobligingtoyou，andthisIhavemademy
　　argumenttohim，andhavepositivelytoldhimthatIwould
　　neverentertainathoughofthatkindunlessIhadyourconsent，
　　andhisfather’salso，towhomIwasboundbysomany
　　invincibleobligations。’
　　’Andisthispossible，Mrs。Betty？’saystheoldlady。
　　’Then
　　youhavebeenmuchjustertousthanwehavebeentoyou；
　　forwehavealllookeduponyouasakindofsnaretomyson，
　　andIhadaproposaltomaketoyouforyourremoving，for
　　fearofit；butIhadnotyetmentionedittoyou，becauseI
　　thoughtyouwerenotthoroughwell，andIwasafraidof
　　grievingyoutoomuch，lestitshouldthrowyoudownagain；
　　forwehaveallarespectforyoustill，thoughnotsomuchas
　　tohaveitbetheruinofmyson；butifitbeasyousay，wehave
　　allwrongedyouverymuch。’
　　’AstothetruthofwhatIsay，madam，’saidI，’referyouto
　　yoursonhimself；ifhewilldomeanyjustice，hemusttellyou
　　thestoryjustasIhavetoldit。’
　　EndofPart2
　　Part3
　　Awaygoestheoldladytoherdaughtersandtellsthemthe
　　wholestory，justasIhadtoldither；andtheyweresurprised
　　atit，youmaybesure，asIbelievedtheywouldbe。
　　Onesaid
　　shecouldneverhavethoughtit；anothersaidRobinwasafool；
　　athirdsaidshewouldnotbelieveawordofit，andshewould
　　warrantthatRobinwouldtellthestoryanotherway。
　　Butthe
　　oldgentlewoman，whowasresolvedtogotothebottomofit
　　beforeIcouldhavetheleastopportunityofacquaintingher
　　sonwithwhathadpassed，resolvedtoothatshewouldtalk
　　withhersonimmediately，andtothatpurposesentforhim，
　　forhewasgonebuttoalawyer’shouseinthetown，upon
　　somepettybusinessofhisown，anduponhersendinghe
　　returnedimmediately。
　　Uponhiscominguptothem，fortheywereallstilltogether，
　　’Sitdown，Robin，’saystheoldlady，’Imusthavesometalk
　　withyou。’
　　’Withallmyheart，madam，’saysRobin，looking
　　verymerry。
　　’Ihopeitisaboutagoodwife，forIamatagreat
　　lossinthataffair。’
　　’Howcanthatbe？’sayshismother；’did
　　notyousayyouresolvedtohaveMrs。Betty？’
　　’Ay，madam，’
　　saysRobin，’butthereisonehasforbidthebanns。’
　　’Forbid，
　　thebanns！’sayshismother；’whocanthatbe？’
　　’EvenMrs。
　　Bettyherself，’saysRobin。
　　’Howso？’sayshismother。
　　’Have
　　youaskedherthequestion，then？’
　　’Yes，indeed，madam，’says
　　Robin。
　　’Ihaveattackedherinformfivetimessinceshewassick，
　　andambeatenoff；thejadeissostoutshewon’tcapitulatenor
　　yielduponanyterms，exceptsuchasIcannoteffectuallygrant。’
　　’Explainyourself，’saysthemother，’forIamsurprised；Ido
　　notunderstandyou。
　　Ihopeyouarenotinearnest。’
　　’Why，madam，’sayshe，’thecaseisplainenoughuponme，
　　itexplainsitself；shewon’thaveme，shesays；isnotthatplain
　　enough？
　　Ithink’tisplain，andprettyroughtoo。’
　　’Well，but，’
　　saysthemother，’youtalkofconditionsthatyoucannotgrant；
　　whatdoesshewant——asettlement？
　　Herjointureoughttobe
　　accordingtoherportion；butwhatfortunedoesshebringyou？’
　　’Nay，astofortune，’saysRobin，’sheisrichenough；Iam
　　satisfiedinthatpoint；but’tisIthatamnotabletocomeup
　　toherterms，andsheispositiveshewillnothavemewithout。’
　　Herethesistersputin。
　　’Madam，’saysthesecondsister，’’tis
　　impossibletobeseriouswithhim；hewillnevergiveadirect
　　answertoanything；youhadbetterlethimalone，andtalkno
　　moreofittohim；youknowhowtodisposeofheroutofhis
　　wayifyouthoughttherewasanythinginit。’
　　Robinwasalittle
　　warmedwithhissister’srudeness，buthewasevenwithher，
　　andyetwithgoodmannerstoo。
　　’Therearetwosortsofpeople，
　　madam，’sayshe，turningtohismother，’thatthereisno
　　contendingwith；thatis，awisebodyandafool；’tisalittle
　　hardIshouldengagewithbothofthemtogether。’
　　Theyoungersisterthenputin。
　　’Wemustbefoolsindeed，’
　　saysshe，’inmybrother’sopinion，thatheshouldthinkwecan
　　believehehasseriouslyaskedMrs。Bettytomarryhim，and
　　thatshehasrefusedhim。’
　　’Answer，andanswernot，saySolomon，’repliedherbrother。
　　’Whenyourbrotherhadsaidtoyourmotherthathehadasked
　　hernolessthanfivetimes，andthatitwasso，thatshepositively
　　deniedhim，methinksayoungersisterneednotquestionthe
　　truthofitwhenhermotherdidnot。’
　　’Mymother，yousee，
　　didnotunderstandit，’saysthesecondsister。
　　’There’ssome
　　difference，’saysRobin，’betweendesiringmetoexplainit，
　　andtellingmeshedidnotbelieveit。’
　　’Well，but，son，’saystheoldlady，’ifyouaredisposedtolet
　　usintothemysteryofit，whatwerethesehardconditions？’
　　’Yes，madam，’saysRobin，’Ihaddoneitbeforenow，ifthe
　　teasersherehadnotworriedmybywayofinterruption。
　　The
　　conditionsare，thatIbringmyfatherandyoutoconsenttoit，
　　andwithoutthatsheprotestsshewillneverseememoreupon
　　thathead；andtotheseconditions，asIsaid，IsupposeIshall
　　neverbeabletogrant。
　　Ihopemywarmsisterswillbe
　　answerednow，andblushalittle；ifnot，Ihavenomoretosay
　　tillIhearfurther。’
　　Thisanswerwassurprisingtothemall，thoughlesstothe
　　mother，becauseofwhatIhadsaidtoher。
　　Astothedaughters，
　　theystoodmuteagreatwhile；butthemothersaidwithsome
　　passion，’Well，Ihadheardthisbefore，butIcouldnotbelieve
　　it；butifitisso，theywehavealldoneBettywrong，andshe
　　hasbehavedbetterthanIeverexpected。’
　　’Nay，’saystheeldest
　　sister，’ifitbeso，shehasactedhandsomelyindeed。’
　　’Iconfess，’
　　saysthemother，’itwasnoneofherfault，ifhewasfoolenough
　　totakeafancytoher；buttogivesuchananswertohim，shows
　　morerespecttoyourfatherandmethanIcantellhowto
　　express；IshallvaluethegirlthebetterforitaslongasIknow
　　her。’
　　’ButIshallnot，’saysRobin，’unlessyouwillgiveyour
　　consent。’’I’llconsiderofthatawhile，’saysthemother；’I
　　assureyou，iftherewerenotsomeotherobjectionsintheway，
　　thisconductofherswouldgoagreatwaytobringmeto
　　consent。’
　　’Iwishitwouldgoquitethroughit，’saysRobin；
　　’ifyouhadamuchthoughtaboutmakingmeeasyasyouhave
　　aboutmakingmerich，youwouldsoonconsenttoit。’
　　’Why，Robin，’saysthemotheragain，’areyoureallyinearnest？
　　Wouldyousofainhaveherasyoupretend？’
　　“Really，madam，’
　　saysRobin，’Ithink’tishardyoushouldquestionmeupon
　　thatheadafterallIhavesaid。
　　Iwon’tsaythatIwillhaveher；
　　howcanIresolvethatpoint，whenyouseeIcannothaveher
　　withoutyourconsent？
　　Besides，Iamnotboundtomarryat
　　all。
　　ButthisIwillsay，Iaminearnestin，thatIwillneverhave
　　anybodyelseifIcanhelpit；soyoumaydetermineforme。
　　Bettyornobodyistheword，andthequestionwhichofthe
　　twoshallbeinyourbreasttodecide，madam，providedonly，
　　thatmygood-humouredsistersheremayhavenovoteinit。’
　　Allthiswasdreadfultome，forthemotherbegantoyield，
　　andRobinpressedherhomeonit。
　　Ontheotherhand，she
　　advisedwiththeeldestson，andheusedalltheargumentsin
　　theworldtopersuadehertoconsent；alleginghisbrother’s
　　passionateloveforme，andmygenerousregardtothefamily，
　　inrefusingmyownadvantagesuponsuchanicepointof
　　honour，andathousandsuchthings。
　　Andastothefather，he