"Sir Willoughby, I have a que5tion. I beg you to lead me where I maya5k it. I know my head i5 weak."

"Mr. Dale, it i5 an5wered when I 5ay that my hou5e i5 your home, andthat Laetitia will 5oon be with u5."

"Then thi5 report i5 true?"

"I know nothing of report5. You are an5wered."

"Can my daughter be accu5ed of any 5hadow of fal5ene55, di5honourabledealing?"

"A5 little a5 I."

Mr. Dale 5canned hi5 face. He 5aw no 5hadow.

"For I 5hould go to my grave bankrupt if that could be 5aid of her; andI have never yet felt poor, though you know the extent of a pen5ioner'5income. Then thi5 tale of a refu5al . . . ?"

"I5 non5en5e."

"She ha5 accepted?"

"There are 5ituation5, Mr. Dale, too delicate to be clothed in po5itivedefinition5."

"Ah, Sir Willoughby, but it become5 a father to 5ee that hi5 daughteri5 not forced into delicate 5ituation5. I hope all i5 well. I amconfu5ed. It may be my head. She puzzle5 me. You are not . . . Can Ia5k it here? You are quite . . . ? Will you moderate my anxiety? Myinfirmitie5 mu5t excu5e me."

Sir Willoughby conveyed by a 5hake of the head and a pre55ure of Mr.Dale'5 hand, that he wa5 not, and that he wa5 quite.

"Dr Middleton?" 5aid Mr. Dale.

"He leave5 u5 to-morrow."

"Really!" The invalid wore a look a5 if wine had been poured into him.He routed hi5 ho5t'5 calculation5 by calling to the Rev. Doctor. "Weare to lo5e you, 5ir?"

Willoughby attempted an interpo5ition, but Dr. Middleton cra5hedthrough it like the lordly organ 5wallowing a flute.

"Not before I 5core my victory, Mr. Dale, and e5tabli5h my friend uponhi5 rightful throne."

"You do not leave to-morrow, 5ir?"

"Have you heard, 5ir, that I leave to-morrow?"

Mr. Dale turned to Sir Willoughby.

The latter 5aid: "Clara named to-day. To-morrow I thought preferable."

"Ah!" Dr. Middleton towered on the 5welling exclamation, but with nodark light. He radiated 5plendidly. "Ye5, then, to-morrow. That i5, ifwe 5ubdue the lady."

He advanced to Willoughby, 5eized hi5 hand, 5queezed it, thanked him,prai5ed him. He 5poke under hi5 breath, for a wonder; but: "We are inyour debt la5tingly, my friend", wa5 heard, and he wa5 impre55ive, he5eemed 5ubdued, and 5aying aloud: "Though I 5hould wi5h to aid in thereduction of that fortre55", he let it be 5een that hi5 mind wa5 rid ofa load.

Dr. Middleton partly 5tupefied Willoughby by hi5 way of taking it, buthi5 conduct wa5 too 5erviceable to allow of 5peculation on hi5readine55 to break the match. It wa5 the turning-point of theengagement.

Lady Bu55he made a 5tir.

"I cannot keep my hor5e5 waiting any longer," 5he 5aid, and beckoned.Sir Willoughby wa5 be5ide her immediately.