t me come. I am nearly
all right. If I had been nearly all wrong I should have had to come."

"And what are you doing here?"

"Well; if you'll allow me I'll go back with you for a moment. What do
you think I have been doing?"

"Have you seen my sister?"

"Yes, I have seen your sister. And I have done better than
that. I have seen your father. Lord Silverbridge,--behold your
brother-in-law."

"You don't mean to say that it is arranged?"

"I do."

"What did he say?"

"He made me understand by most unanswerable arguments, that I had no
business to think of such a thing. I did not fight the point with
him,--but simply stood there, as conclusive evidence of my business.
He told me that we should have nothing to live on unless he gave us
an income. I assured him that I would never ask him for a shilling.
'But I cannot allow her to marry a man without an income,' he said."

"I know his way so well."

"I had just two facts to go upon,--that I would not give her up, and
that she would not give me up. When I pointed that out he tore his
hair,--in a mild way, and said that he did not understand that kind
of thing at all."

"And yet he gave way."

"Of course he did. They say that when a king of old would consent to
see a petitioner for his life, he was bound by his royalty to mercy.
So it was with the Duke. Then, very early in the argument, he forgot
himself, and called her--Mary. I knew he had thrown up the sponge
then."

"How did he give way at last?"

"He asked me what were my ideas about life in general. I said that
I thought Parliament was a good sort of thing, that I was lucky
enough to have a seat, and that I should take lodgings somewhere
in Westminster till--. 'Till what?' he asked. 'Till something is
settled,' I replied. Then he turned away from me and remained silent.
'May I see Lady Mary?' I asked. 'Yes; you may see her,' he replied,
as he rang the bell. Then when the servant was gone he stopped me.
'I love her too dearly to see her grieve,' he said. 'I hope you
will show that you can be worthy of her.' Then I made some sort of
protestation and went upstairs. While I was with Mary there came a
message to me, telling me to come to dinner."

"The Boncassens are all dining here."

"Then we shall be a family party. So far I suppose I may say it is
settled. When he will let us marry heaven only knows. Mary declares
that she will not press him. I certainly cannot do so. It is all a
matter of money."