ing to do with it--"

"What! love's nothing to do with marriage?"

"When a woman's once engaged, she's got to implement her promise."

"Whether it makes her happy or miserable?"

"Who was miserable, I'd like to know?"

"Ellen."

"It's the first I've heard of it."

"Do you mean to say you couldn't see it for yourself?"

"No, I could not; and even if she was, there's not the shadow of an
excuse for your conduct. You're just making a mess of everything you
meddle with. Getting me jilted like this! What do you suppose people
will say? What'll they be thinking of me? Oh, good Lord!"

The unhappy young man brooded somberly. Mr. Walkingshaw lit a cigar,
and then settled himself down to remove by gentle argument the cloud
that temporarily obscured his son's serenity.

"Just look at the thing for a moment in a quiet and reasonable light,
Andrew. Happiness, as you are well aware, is the chief aim of humanity.
Damn it, our religion teaches us that--or practically that. A kind of
warm and amiable gleefulness--that's the ideal. Now, how can a young
girl like Ellen be happy or gleeful married to a sober old codger like
you, eh? Man, the thing's clean impossible. She's no more suited to you
than a lace cover to a coal-scuttle. Well, then what's the obvious thing
to do? Hand her over to a brisk young fellow who can do her justice, of
course. Besides, just think of your own brother pining away in the--what
do they call it?--torrid zone, all for love of a girl who's pining away
for love of him. The thing's totally illogical. A society of hedgehogs
would have more sense than to allow an arrangement like that. You see my
point now, don't you?"

"I've heard you say with your own lips," retorted Andrew, "that all a
girl required was a comfortable home and a husband who knew his own
mind."

"But you must remember," explained his father, "I was an old fool then."

Andrew sprang to his feet with a wry and bitter face.

"You certainly haven't the qualities of age now. I never heard such
daft-like rubbish in my life. For Heaven's sake, just try to use any
common sense you've got left. Frank will never have enough money to keep
her properly."

"Ah, but naturally I mean to alter my arrangements."

Gradually the full possibilities of the situation were revealing
themselves to the well-regulated mind of the junior partner.

"You mean to change your will?"

"I do."

Yet another horrid possibility showed its head.

"And are yo