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“Am I to consider your present decision as final?” said the young man, in surprise and disappointment.

“I wish you to do so, Mr. Mortimer,” said Flora.

“Your father approves my suit,” said he. “I have his full consent to make you this offer of my hand.”

“I cannot but feel flattered at your preference,” returned Flora; “but, to accept your offer, would not be just either to you or myself. I, therefore, wish you to understand me as being entirely in earnest.”

This closed the interview and definitely settled the question. When Mr. Johnson learned that the offer of Mortimer had been declined, he was very angry with his daughter, and, in the passionate excitement of his feelings, committed a piece of folly for which he felt an immediate sense of shame and regret.

The interview between Mr. Mortimer and Flora took place during the afternoon, and Mr. Johnson learned the result from a note received from the disappointed young man, just as he was about leaving his store to return home. Flora did not join the family at the tea-table, on that evening, for her mind was a good deal disturbed, and she wished to regain her calmness and self-possession before meeting her father.

Mr. Johnson was sitting in a moody and angry state of mind about an hour after supper, when a domestic came into the room and said that Mr. Watson was in the parlor.

“What does he want here?” asked Mr. Johnson, in a rough, excited voice.

“He asked for Miss Flora,” returned the servant.

“Where is she?”

“In her room.”

“Well, let her stay there. I’ll see him myself.”

And without taking time for reflection, Mr. Johnson descended to the parlor.

“Mr. Watson,” said he, coldly, as the young man arose and advanced towards him.

His manner caused the visitor to pause, and let the hand he had extended fall to his side.

“Well, what is your wish?” asked Mr. Johnson. He looked with knit brows into Watson’s face.

“I have called to see your daughter Flora,” returned the young man, calmly.

“Then, I wish you to understand that your call is not agreeable,” said the father of the young lady, with great rudeness of manner.

“Not agreeable to whom?” asked Watson, manifesting no excitement.

“Not agreeable to me,” replied Mr. Johnson. “Nor agreeable to any one in this house.”

“Do you speak for your daughter?” inquired the young man.

“I have a right to speak for her, if any one has,” was the evasive answer.

Watson bowed respectfully, and, without a word more, retired from the house.

The calm dignity with which he had received the rough treatment of Mr. Johnson, rebuked the latter, and added a feeling of shame to his other causes of mental disquietude.

On the next day Flora received a letter from Watson, in part in these words–

“I called, last evening, but was not so fortunate as to see you. Your father met me in the parlor, and on learning that my visit was to you, desired me not to come again. This circumstance makes it imperative on me to declare what might have been sometime longer delayed–my sincere regard for you. If you feel towards me as your father does, then I have not a word more to say; but I do not believe this, and, therefore, I cannot let his disapproval, in a matter so intimately concerning my happiness, and it may be yours, influence me to the formation of a hasty decision. I deeply regret your father’s state of feeling. His full approval of my suit, next to yours, I feel to be in every way desirable.

“But, why need I multiply words? Again, I declare that I feel for you a sincere affection. If you can return this, say so with as little delay as possible; and if you cannot, be equally frank with me.”

Watson did not err in his belief that Flora reciprocated his tender sentiments; nor was he kept long in suspense. She made an early reply, avowing her own attachment, but urging him; for her sake, to do all in his power to overcome her father’s prejudices. But this was no easy task. In the end, however, Mr. Johnson, who saw, too plainly, that opposition on his part would be of no avail, yielded a kind of forced consent that the plodding, behind-the-age young merchant, should lead Flora to the altar. That his daughter should be content with such a man, was to him a source of deep mortification. His own expectations in regard to her had been of a far higher character.