"Of course I interfered with him. How is a fellow to help himself? We
both of us were spooning on the same girl, and of course she had to
decide it."
"And she decided for you?"
"I fancy she did. At any rate I decided for her, and I mean to have
her."
Then Mr. Prosper was, for him, very gracious in his congratulations,
saying all manner of good things of Miss Mountjoy. "I think you'd like
her, Uncle Prosper." Mr. Prosper did not doubt but that he would
"appease the solicitor." He also had heard of Miss Mountjoy, and what he
had heard had been much to the "young lady's credit." Then he asked a
few questions as to the time fixed for the marriage. Here Harry was
obliged to own that there were difficulties. Miss Mountjoy had promised
not to marry for three years without her mother's consent. "Three
years!" said Mr. Prosper. "Then I shall be dead and buried." Harry did
not tell his uncle that in that case the difficulty might probably
vanish, as the same degree of fate which had robbed him of his poor
uncle would have made him owner of Buston. In such a case as that Mrs.
Mountjoy might probably give way.
"But why is the young lady to be kept from marriage for three years?
Does she wish it?"
Harry said that he did not exactly think that Miss Mountjoy, on her own
behalf, did wish for so prolonged a separation.
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