(Greek passage)           Humerus in Odyssea.
 
          The youthful suitors, playing each his part,
          Stirred pleasing tumult¹ in each fair one's heart.
          —Adapted—not translated.
Harry² Hedgerow had found means on several occasions of delivering farm and forest produce at the Tower, to introduce his six friends to the sisters, giving all the young men in turn to understand that they must not think of Miss Dorothy; an injunction which, in the ordinary perverse³ course of events, might have led them all to think of no one else, and produced a complication very disagreeable for their introducer. It was not so, however. 'The beauty of it,' as Harry said to the reverend doctor, was that each had found a distinct favourite among the seven vestals. They had not, however, gone beyond giving pretty intelligible⁴ hints. They had not decidedly ventured to declare or propose. They left it to Harry to prosecute⁵ his suit to Miss Dorothy, purposing to step in on the rear of his success. They had severally the satisfaction of being assured by various handsome young gipsies, whose hands they had crossed with lucky shillings, that each of them was in love with a fair young woman, who was quite as much in love with him, and whom he would certainly marry before twelve months were over. And they went on their way rejoicing.
 
Now Harry was indefatigable⁶ in his suit, which he had unbounded liberty to plead; for Dorothy always listened to him complacently⁷, though without departing from the answer she had originally given, that she and her sisters would not part with each other and their young master.
 
The sisters had not attached much importance to Mr. Falconer's absences; for on every occasion of his return the predominant feeling he had seemed to express was that of extreme delight at being once more at home.
 
One day, while Mr. Falconer was at the Grange, receiving admonition from Orlando Innamorato, Harry, having the pleasure to find Dorothy alone, pressed his suit as usual, was listened to as usual, and seemed likely to terminate without being more advanced than usual, except in so far as they both found a progressive pleasure, she in listening, and he in being listened to. There was to both a growing charm in thus 'dallying⁸ with the innocence⁹ of love,' and though she always said No with her lips, he began to read Yes in her eyes.
 
Harry. Well, but, Miss Dorothy, though you and your sisters will not leave your young master, suppose somebody should take him away from you, what would you say then?
 
Dorothy. What do you mean, Master Harry?
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