tinent.'

'Find plenty of scamps there to keep him company,' added Tom. 'So he's
broke--eh? ha! ha!'

'Tom,' said Andrew, seriously, 'I'll tell you all about it, if you 'll
swear not to split on me, because it would really upset poor Harry so.
She 'd think me such a beastly hypocrite, I couldn't face her
afterwards.'

'Lose what pluck you have--eh?' Tom jerked out his hand, and bade his
brother continue.

Compelled to trust in him without a promise, Andrew said: 'Well, then,
after we'd arranged it, I went back to Harry, and begged her to have poor
Van at the house told her what I hoped you'd do for him about getting him
into the Brewery. She's very kind, Tom, 'pon my honour she is. She was
willing, only--'

'Only--eh?'

'Well, she was so afraid it'd hurt her sisters to see him there.'

Old Tom saw he was in for excellent fun, and wouldn't spoil it for the
world.

'Yes, Nan?'

'So I went to Caroline. She was easy enough; and she went to the
Countess.'

'Well, and she--?'

'She was willing, too, till Lady Jocelyn came and took Miss Bonner home
to Beckley, and because Evan had written to my lady to fetch her, the
Countess--she was angry. That was all. Because of that, you know. But yet
she agreed. But when Miss Bonner had gone, it turned out that the Major
was the obstacle. They were all willing enough to have Evan there, but
the Major refused. I didn't hear him. I wasn't going to ask him. I mayn't
be a match for three women, but man to man, eh, Tom? You'd back me there?
So Harry said the Major 'd make Caroline miserable, if his wishes were
disrespected. By George, I wish I'd know, then. Don't you think it odd,
Tom, now? There's a Duke of Belfield the fellow had hooked into his
Company; and--through Evan I heard--the Duke had his name struck off.
After that, the Major swore at the Duke once or twice, and said Caroline
wasn't to go out with him. Suddenly, he insists that she shall go. Days
the poor thing kept crying! One day, he makes her go. She hasn't the
spirit of my Harry or the Countess. By good luck, Van, who was hunting
ferns for some friends of his, met them on Sunday in Richmond Park, and
Van took her away from the Duke. But, Tom, think of Van seeing a fellow
watching her wherever she went, and hearing the Duke's coachman tell that
fellow he had orders to drive his master and a lady hard on to the sea
that night. I don't believe it--it wasn't Caroline! But what do you think
of our finding out that b