THERE IS NO HURRY.  . 161

the second also waiting for a cadetship; while
the youngest was still at Eton. These three
young men thought it incumbent on them to
evince their belief in their father’s prosperity by
their expenditure, and accordingly they spent
much more than the sons of a professional man
ought to spend under any circumstances. Of
al waitings, the waiting upon patronage is the
most tedious and the most enervating to the
waiter. Dr. Adams felt it in all its bitterness
when his sons’ bills came to be paid; but he
consoled himself, also, for his dilatoriness with
regard to a provision for his daughters—it was
impossible to lay by while his children were
being educated; but the moment his eldest
sons got the appointments they were promised,
he would certainly save, or insure, or do some-
thing.
_ People who only talk about doing “ some-
thing,” generally end by doing “ nothing.” An-
other year passed; Mrs. Adams was still an
invalid, the younger girls more delicate than
ever, the boys waiting, as before, their promised
appointments, and more extravagant than ever;
and Miss Adams had made a conquest which
even her father thought worthy of her.

The gentleman who had become really at-
tached to this beautiful girl was of a high fami-
ly, who were sufficiently charmed with the ob-
ject of his affections to give their full sanction,
as far as person and position were concerned ;