es on Ma Chit again."

"Well, then, as likely as not ye won't," remarked Mung Baw soothingly.
"She has a rich relation up at Thayetmyo, and she's swithering between
love and money. Perhaps, after all, money will carry the day. Well,
now, I must be goin' to me duties--and me devotions, and I'll bid ye
good evening."

* * * * * *

The conversation at "Heidelberg" interrupted by Lily had been resumed
on a suitable occasion in the gardens of the "Barn," and Sophy and
Shafto were now provisionally engaged.

"I'm a wretched match for you, Sophy," he declared; "I don't believe
your mother will allow it. I've no prospects."

"Never mind prospects," was her reckless reply. "We shall have enough
to live on. I have a hundred a year of my own, and I'm quite a good
manager, with a real taste for millinery. If the worst comes to the
worst, I shall open a shop in Phayre Street and make our fortune!"

It was mail day and Shafto, who now dined at the "Barn," was unusually
late in appearing. He looked rather excited and out of himself as he
entered with many apologies. After dinner he and Sophy paced the drive
in the silver moonlight, and she began:

"I could hardly sit still, or eat a morsel, for anyone could see that
you were bursting with some great news. What is it?"

"I have two pieces of news, and I'll give you first of all one that
concerns ourselves. I saw in the _Mail_ some weeks ago that my uncle,
Julian Shafto, was dead. He had no family and left no will; and I
found a letter to-day at the office from a lawyer, informing me that I,
being next of kin, am heir-at-law, and succeed to the property and a
fairly large income."

"Oh, Douglas, how splendid! It sounds too good to be true!"

"I never saw my uncle; he and my father had a disagreement before I was
born, and had no communication with one another. He did not even send
us a line when my father died. I fancy he was a hard-bitten old
bachelor. I've not seen the family place, Shafton Court, and don't
know much about it, except I remember my father saying there were one
or two fine pictures, a fair library, and, what did not interest him,
first-rate partridge shooting."

"Oh, what a piece of good fortune! Do let us go in at once and tell
Polly."

"But would you not like to hear my other piece of news, which is even
better?"

"It could not be better; but do tell me quickly."

"FitzGerald has brought off a splendid _