The notary's nose;

204 UNCLE AND NEPHEW.
but what difference does it make? The
word is always understood when two true
hearts speak of love.
Francois was of age and his own
master, but his beloved depended upon a
father whose consent it was necessary to
obtain. There the unfortunate youth's
timidity mastered him again. It was well
enough for Claire to say to him: "Write
unhesitatingly; my father is already notified: you will receive his consent by return
mail." He wrote and re-wrote this letter
over a hundred times, without being able to
make up his mind to send it. Nevertheless,
it was an easy task, and the most ordinary
intelligence would have performed it with
credit. Francois knew the name, position,
fortune, and even the temperament of his
future father-in-law. They had let him
into all the domestic secrets; he was almost one of the family. What was left for
him to do? To state, in a few words,