gh's companion?"

"Charlie! my Charlie! and Cis was on the front seat. Cis saw me, for he
clapped his hands and pointed as they flew past. What do you think of
that?"

"By George!" he exclaimed, in capital letters. "I believe he is still
after Katherine. If so, she'll have the devil's own luck."

"Now listen to me. As Wilton Street was quite near, I went on there to
gather what I could from Miss Payne. She was at home, and a little less
sour and silent then usual. She was sorry, she said, the boys were out.
They have been with her for a week, and Lord de Burgh had been most
kind. He had taken them to the Zoological Gardens and Madame Tussaud's,
and just now had called for them to go to the circus. Isn't it
wonderful? Do try and picture De Burgh at Madame Tussaud's."

"There is only one way of accounting for such strange conduct," returned
the Colonel, thoughtfully. "He means to marry your sister. This would
change the face of affairs considerably."

"Yes; it would be delightful."

"I'm not so sure of that," returned Ormonde, seriously. "Now that he is
in love--and you know he is all fire and tow--he makes a fuss about the
boys; but wait till he is married, and he will try to shift them back on
you. Why should he put up with his wife's nephews any more than I do
with _my_ wife's sons?"

"Because he is more in love, and a good deal richer," returned Mrs.
Ormonde.

"More in love! Bosh! In the middle of the fever, you mean. Of course
that will pass over."

"Really men are great brutes," observed Mrs. Ormonde, philosophically.

"And women awful fools," added her husband.

"Well, perhaps so," she returned, with a slight smile and a sharp
glance.

"Seriously, though," resumed Colonel Ormonde, "it's all very well for
Katherine to make a good match, and if De Burgh is fool enough to be in
earnest, it will be a splendid match for her; but things may be made
rather rough for me. That fellow De Burgh has the queerest crotchets,
and doesn't hesitate to air them. He'd think nothing of slapping my
shoulder in the club before a dozen members, and asking me if I meant to
leave my wife's brats on his hands."

"Do you really think so? Oh, Katherine would never let him. She dearly
loves the boys."

"Wait till she has a son of her own."

"Even so. She has her faults, I know. Her temper is rather violent, her
ideas are too high-flown and nonsensical, and she won't take advice, but
she never would injure _me_, I am sure of