those who have a legitimate interest in guarding
it free from speck or stain.

"In these views, I write to say I am about to
marry. Ordinary boys would, of course, dilate
on tne charms of the person I have chosen.
I know you too well to indulge in rhapsodies of
that kind. But this much I may say: she will
be no discredit to our family. She is a Miss
Manuel, of a half-Spanish family. I think her
charming; but she will make an excellent wife,
which is the point to look at. I do not enter
into details now, as it is so late (or early,
perhaps), but I lose no time in communicating
to you news of this important step, which I
almost assume you will approve of. You shall
hear again to-morrow.

"Your affectionate Son,

"CHARLES FERMOR."

"Well?" said Lady Laura, eagerly, when he
had done. "Is it not charming news? It
is deplorable! But I give up. I can't go
on any more. I am sick and weary of the
whole business. Let them all do as they please.
Marry out of the street if they will." (Poor
Alicia Mary, and Blanche! offers from any
direction would be welcome!) And the veteran
lady, utterly beaten and baffled, seemed to
bend up and collapse physically, just as all her
hopes had done already.

The diplomatist got to the end of it much
relieved, yet there was a shade of disappointment
on his face at his divination having broken
down. The penetration that had pierced to
the bottom of the savage nature of the Waipitis,
was infallibly certain as to the innkeeper's
daughter. He shook his head slowly at it, as if
it were the water-trough of his cage, then laid
his head on one side, then on the other.

"Stupid fellow!" he said at last, tranquilly;
"I thought he had more sense."

"And what shall we write to him," said Lady
Laura, suddenly standing up, very fiercely.
"Write to him and tell him never to come into
my presence again? To tramp round, he and
his low wife, from barrack to barrack until they
starve! Not one farthing shall he ever have
from me again! And I conjure you, Cousin
Pocock, to promise me that you will never let
him have a sixpence of yours." For certainly
a dozen years back Lady Laura Fermor had
never been so excited.

Sir Hopkins was smiling to himself all this
while. An idea had struck him. He seemed
to have on his diplomatic uniform, its collar of
deal board and all. His eyes twinkled as he
thought of this prospect.

"Never see him again," he said. " We shall
see him very often, I hope. No, no, things are
not so bad. I don't take this gloomy view at
all. A skilful negotiator would very soon
restore the status quo ante."

"You don't know him," said Lady Laura.
"He is so proud and stubborn. He will never
listen to reason."

"Except to his own," said the diplomatist.
"The most suitable disposition in the world, for
working on. I recollect the old Waipiti
chief——"

"Yes, yes," said Lady Laura, a little
impatiently. " But it will be no use, I tell you,
speaking or writing to him. As an infant, he
was the same; as a boy, he was the same; as a
young man, he was the same; he will always be
the same. Let him take his own way. What does
it matter? They talk of those women that make
the shirts; but what has my life been? All
disappointments and trouble, crossed in every
way. I can do nothing with any of them, so I
give it up now."

"That's the way with you women," said he,
rubbing his hands, and looking into the stove;
"you give up when we begin. This poor
foolish Charles! Never mind, we shall see
what can be done to-morrow. All! here we
come at last!" and the girls came "swelling"
in, like two yachts, with all their finery spread,
and a maid coasting behind with a spare sail or
so on her arm.

They did not notice their mother's shrunk
and woful face; there were some final touches
to be given. In the carriage she broke out with
the story that night's mail had brought her.
"Your brother is making a fine fool of himself!
Go to somebody—I wish to Heaven you would—
and leave me here. I am sick of you all. I
am sick of the world. I have done what I
could for you, and I am tired and exhausted.
Only just let him write me one of his
hypocritical letters when he wants money! I,
that have always scraped, and pinched, and
denied myself, to keep him up in his proper
station!"

It was a dismal progress in that dark carriage.
The girls had been a little excited by this
party, though indeed, by this time, it should
have been as monotonous as parade or drill.
This news came on them with a chill, and made
the opera-cloaks on their shoulders feel like
palls. Their hearts felt tight even under the stiff
silk armour, which the maid Maria had tightened
with many struggles. Suddenly came the
lights and the music of the " dance," seen and
heard through the open drawing-room. As
though the fashionable sergeant had called out
"Attention," they fell into regular line, fans
were "ordered," smiles and general happiness
mounted to their faces; they bent, and swayed,
shook kid-covered hands, were so glad, and so
sorry, and so alarmed at being late; and were
so smiling and delighted, that the idea was
someway inspired, that by impediments they
had been long kept away from this delicious
retreat; that they had given their jailers the
slip, and were now finally got to the place for
which their souls had yearned. They had
put on their smiles with their gloves. The
ugly family nightmare—just heard of—they
thrust down, and shut the lid up, though it
would fly open at times in the midst of a valse,
like a jack-in-the-box. Lady Laura Fermor
"taken down" for an ice by Shafto Lyons, M.P.,
who was getting his chest "shored up" at Nice,
was rallied by her in the gayest manner, on a