“My dear mother, even the Prayer-Book says a woman may not marry her grandfather.”

“Yes, my dear, also that a man may not marry his grandmother; but what has that to do with Mr. Lee?”

“Simply that he is old enough to be my grandfather nearly.”

“There is a great difference certainly, but not quite sufficient for that, Katherine. Mr. Lee is four-and-thirty, and you nearly eighteen.”

“My dear mother, I always thought him fifty when I rode his pony years ago.”

“Very likely; children’s ideas of ago are not very correct. They generally think their mother in her dotage at forty. Five years ago he was nine-and-twenty.”

“Then such a name, my dear mother. Fancy Michael! It might almost as well be Zedekiah or Nebuchadnezzar at once. I remember your reading a novel with a Nathaniel for a hero; I do not think I could stand Michael for mine; and besides, he is half a widower.”

“My dear Katherine, far be it from me to persuade you to marry Mr. Lee, or any one else, only do try and be serious; think quietly about it, and then give me your answer.”