red
of this one, and laughed out a royal "Ha!" like a monarch reviewing his
well-appointed soldiery.

"There you are," said Van Diemen's voice; "I smelt your pipe. You're a
rum fellow, to belying out on the beach on a cold night. Lord! I don't
like you the worse for it. Twas for the romance of the moon in my young
days."

"Where is Annette?" said Fellingham, jumping to his feet.

"My daughter? She 's taking leave of her intended."

"What's that?" Fellingham gasped. "Good heavens, Mr. Smith, what do you
mean?"

"Pick up your pipe, my lad. Girls choose as they please, I suppose"

"Her intended, did you say, sir? What can that mean?"

"My dear good young fellow, don't make a fuss. We're all going to stay
here, and very glad to see you from time to time. The fact is, I oughtn't
to have quarrelled with Mart Tinman as I've done; I'm too peppery by
nature. The fact is, I struck him, and he forgave it. I could n't have
done that myself. And I believe I'm in for a headache to-morrow; upon my
soul, I do. Mart Tinman would champagne us; but, poor old boy, I struck
him, and I couldn't make amends--didn't see my way; and we joined hands
over the glass--to the deuce with the glass!--and the end of it is,
Netty--she did n't propose it, but as I'm in his--I say, as I had struck
him, she--it was rather solemn, if you had seen us--she burst into tears,
and there was Mrs. Cavely, and old Mart, and me as big a fool--if I'm not
a villain!"

Fellingham perceived a more than common effect of Tin man's wine. He
touched Van Diemen on the shoulder. "May I beg to hear exactly what has
happened?"

"Upon my soul, we're all going to live comfortably in Old England, and no
more quarreling and decamping," was the stupid rejoinder. "Except that I
did n't exactly--I think you said I exactly'?--I did n't bargain for old
Mart as my--but he's a sound man; Mart's my junior; he's rich. He's eco
. . . he's eco . . . you know--my Lord! where's my brains?--but he's
upright--'nomical!"

"An economical man," said Fellingham, with sedate impatience.

"My dear sir, I'm heartily obliged to you for your assistance," returned
Van Diemen. "Here she is."

Annette had come out of the gate in the flint wall. She started slightly
on seeing Herbert, whom she had taken for a coastguard, she said. He
bowed. He kept his head bent, peering at her intrusively.

"It's the air on champagne," Van Diemen said, calling on his lungs to
clear themselves and right him.