'Here, Milly, are more verses. He is a very persevering poet, whoever he
is.' So I broke the seal; but this time it was prose. And the first words
were 'Captain Oakley!'
I confess to an odd sensation as these remarkable words met my eye. It
might possibly be a proposal. I did not wait to speculate, however, but
read these sentences traced in the identical handwriting which had copied
the lines with which I had been twice favoured.
'Captain Oakley presents his compliments to Miss Ruthyn, and trusts she
will excuse his venturing to ask whether, during his short stay in Feltram,
he might be permitted to pay his respects at Bartram-Haugh. He has been
making a short visit to his aunt, and could not find himself so near
without at least attempting to renew an acquaintance which he has never
ceased to cherish in memory. If Miss Ruthyn would be so very good as to
favour him with ever so short a reply to the question he ventures most
respectfully to ask, her decision would reach him at the Hall Hotel,
Feltram.'
'Well, he's a roundabout fellah, anyhow. Couldn't he come up and see you if
he wanted to? They poeters, they do love writing long yarns--don't they?'
And with this reflection, Milly took the note and read it through again.
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