n the Captain gave you this house, he
loved you. You were young, weren't you? You were young and beautiful?
Well, would you like to think your house was going to be used to
separate two people very much in love with each other? You can say I
climbed over the wall. You can make any excuse you like to Sylvia. But,
Mrs. Gainsborough, do, do let me know when Lily is going to be alone. If
she doesn't want to come away with me, it will be my fault, and that
will be the end of it. If only you'll help me at the beginning. Will
you? Will you promise to help me?"

"I never could resist a man," sighed Mrs. Gainsborough, with
resignation. "There's a character! Oh, well, it's my own and no one
else's, that's one good job."

Michael had to wait until February was nearly over before he heard from
her. It had been very difficult to remain quietly at Cheyne Walk, but he
knew that if he were to show any sign of activity, Sylvia would carry
Lily off again.

"A person to see you, sir," said the tortoise-mouthed parlormaid.

Michael found Mrs. Gainsborough sitting in the hall. She was wearing a
bonnet tied with very bright cerise ribbons.

"They've had a rumpus, the pair of them, this afternoon. And Sylvia's
gone off in the sulks. I really was quite aggravated with her. Oh, she's
a willful spitfire, that girl, sometimes. She really is."

Michael was coming away without a coat or hat, and Mrs. Gainsborough
stopped him.

"Now don't behave like a silly. Dress yourself properly and don't make
me run. I'm getting stout, you know," she protested.

"We'll get a hansom."

"What, ride in a hansom? Never! A four-wheeler if you _like_."

It was difficult to find a four-wheeler, and Michael was nearly mad with
impatience.

"Now don't upset yourself. Sylvia won't be back to-night, and there's no
need to tug at me as if I was a cork in a bottle. People will think
we're a walking poppy-show, if you don't act more quiet. They're all
turning round to stare at us."

A four-wheeler appeared presently, and very soon they were walking down
Tinderbox Lane. Michael felt rather like a little boy out with his
nurse, as he kept turning back to exhort Mrs. Gainsborough to come more
quickly. She grew more and more red in the face, and so wheezy that he
was afraid something would happen to her, and for a few yards made no
attempt to hurry her along. At last they reached Mulberry Cottage.

"Supposing Sylvia has come back!" he said.

"I keep on telling