stleigh. And I suppose you've got a little money?"

Mr. Raggett shook his head, and in a broken voice was understood to say:
"A very little."

"I don't want any fuss or anything of that kind," said Miss Boom calmly.
"No bridesmaids or anything of that sort; it wouldn't be suitable at
your age."

Mr. Raggett withdrew his pipe, and holding it an inch or two from his
mouth, listened like one in a dream.

"Just a few old friends, and a bit of cake," continued Miss Boom
musingly. "And instead of spending a lot of money in foolish waste, well
have three weeks in London."

Mr. Raggett made a gurgling noise in his throat, and suddenly
remembering himself, pretended to think that it was something wrong with
his pipe, and removing it blew noisily through the mouthpiece.

"Perhaps," he said, in a trembling voice--"perhaps you'd better take a
little longer to consider, my dear."

Kate shook her head. "I've quite made up my mind," she said, "quite.
And now I want to marry you just as much as you want to marry me.
Good-night, Father; good-night--George."

Mr. Raggett started violently, and collapsed in his chair.

"Raggett," said Mr. Boom huskily.

"Don't talk to me," said the other, "I can't bear it."

Mr. Boom, respecting his friend's trouble, relapsed into silence again,
and for a long time not a word was spoken.

"My 'ed's in a whirl," said Mr. Raggett at length.

"It 'ud be a wonder if it wasn't," said Mr. Boom sympathetically.

"To think," continued the other miserably, "how I've been let in for
this. The plots an' the plans and the artfulness what's been goin' on
round me, an' I've never seen it."

"What d'ye mean?" demanded Mr. Boom, with sudden violence.

"I know what I mean," said Mr. Raggett darkly.

"P'r'aps you'll tell me, then," said the other.

"Who thought of it first?" demanded Mr. Raggett ferociously. "Who came
to me and asked me to court his slip of a girl?"

"Don't you be a' old fool," said Mr. Boom heatedly. "It's done now, and
what's done can't be undone. I never thought to have a son-in-law seven
or eight years older than what I am, and what's more, I don't want it."

"Said I wasn't much to look at, but she liked my chest o' drawers,"
repeated Raggett mechanically.

"Don't ask me where she gets her natur' from, cos I couldn't tell you,"
said the unhappy parent; "she don't get it from me."

Mr. Raggett allowed this reflection upon the late Mrs. Boom to pass
unnoticed, and taking his ha