extra stiffness and starch, and set out on public
duty to call on Mr. Dacres. Lucy was sitting
with her father, who was in rather an ill humour.
One of his fits of pettish despondency had
come upon him. He was wearing away like a
rat in a hole. The curse of Swift was upon
him. A man of his gifts and genius shut out
in this way from his own walk, with a set of
wretched fellows picking up his crumbs!
Lucy went through the old immemorial
formulas, and soothed, and petted, and reassured
with her accustomed earnestness and success.
Mr. Blacker entered; and the duty he had
come for seemed written in his face. Almost
at once he said:

"I want to speak to you a little, in private,
Dacres; rather a serious thing."

"What the devil's up now?" said the agreeable
Dacres, his face assuming a spiteful look.
"What precious news have you got?"

"It is for your private ear, Dacres; so I
will ask the young lady, your daughter, to
leave us a few moments together. It is really
of importance."

"What are you at now?" said Mr. Dacres,
scowling at him. " I want no secrets here."

Lucy, however, had stolen off to "poor
mamma."

"Now speak out, and have done with it."

"The fact is this," said Mr. Blacker; " some
—ahem!—rather unpleasant stories have been
going about here."

"Well, you are an original fellow! So you
come here laden with unpleasant stories of the
place! Much obliged to you."

"It is rather serious, you see," went on
Mr. Blacker, not in the least put out; " and
it is right you should know. It seems, your
daughter and Mr. Vivian went off on an
expedition to a fair; and really what they say—in
fact, it is only proper you should contradict the
stories, or take action in the matter."

"And what are the stories, pray?"

"Well, you know, for a young girl to go
off with a gentleman and spend the whole day,
and not return till midnight; and, they say,
was seen dancing there."

"What liars they are!" said Mr. Dacres,
warmly. " And you help to propagate this
rubbish. You're a charitable minister."

Before Mr. Blacker could reply, the door
opened suddenly, and Vivian entered.

"I beg pardon," he said, " but I thought Miss
Dacres—"

"You are just in time," said Dacres, taking
another turn. " Here's a charming piece of news,
brought in by our friend here. It seems there
are stories going about as to that expedition
of yours to the fair. I look to you, my friend,
to clear up all this to the satisfaction of these
impudent meddlers, who go worrying
themselves with what don't concern them. Tell
this gentleman, were you and she dancing on a
common platform there?"

"It is quite false," said Vivian, indignantly;
"we left before the dancing began. You were
there yourself."

"Oh!" said Mr. Blacker, surprised. "Mr.
Dacres was there? That is quite a different
thing"

"Yes, of course it is!" said Dacres. "I
suppose a father can take his child for a holiday,
without the low broken-down herd of this
place being consulted? See here, Mr. Blacker,
I don't at all take it friendly of you, coming
here on such an errand. I don't think it
concerned you; and, I tell you what, I don't
mean to let the matter rest here. To begin, I
must have the name of your authority for these
slanders."

"Oh, really, I am not prepared—"

"Oh, but really, I am, though. I tell you, I
shall go round, and make you go round, and
contradict this. I say again, who had you
these lies from?"

"Common rumour, my dear sir— the common
gossip of the place."

"I can tell you," said Vivian, calmly. " There
was only one person there who could have sent
such stories afloat, and only one person who
had a motive in doing so. I have learned
enough of him lately to know that his malignity
would stop at nothing."

"By Jove, Vivian, you've hit it," said
Dacres, starting up. " That's the quarter, sir!
A mere creeping fellow, and just like his little
spite. I'll choke him off! What does he
mean by vilifying my child? See here, now,
Blacker. I expect you—at once—to go round
to all the old women and set this right."

"Oh, certainly," said Mr. Blacker, rather
alarmed. " It is only right, and proper, and
Christian. You may depend on me."

"I know I may," said Mr. Dacres, grimly.

When Mr. Blacker was gone, Dacres closed
the door softly, and looking steadily a moment,
said to Vivian:

"This is a nice mess, eh!"

"Leave it to me," said Vivian. " I shall
take a decided course with these Wests."

Mr. Dacres had been listening, and regarding
him very steadily, as he spoke.

"Very proper and very suitable," he said.
"But now that brings us to the point. You
see what all this comes to, Colonel Vivian.
And to what a pass this shilly-shallying has
brought us! I don't see so much harm in
this news of Blacker's, because the remedy is
easy. So now it's time for me to put a plain
question. Vivian, my colonel, what day do we
fix for this marriage?"

"I tell you, as I stand here, it is the
happiness I am looking forward to, as I am to
living out my own life!"

"Oh, of course, I am sure of all that," said
the other, dryly; " and the best proof of this,
is for you to fix the time."

"I am helpless, I tell you," said he,
passionately. " If it was to be this very hour, I
would willingly agree; but there is one thing
which I cannot tell, and which you must not ask
me, which must put it off yet. I know it seems
strange, but I have spoken to her. She knows
me, and understands me."