m me, before proposing, would be impertinent; and after
proposing they would be too late. But one thing I am certain of--if I
lose Harrie Hunsden, I shall go mad!"

While he tore up and down like a caged tiger, the door softly opened
and his sister looked in.

"Alone, Everard?" she said, timidly, "I thought mamma was with you."

"Mamma has just gone to her room in a blessed temper," answered her
brother, savagely. "Come in Milly, and help me in this horrible
scrape, if you can."

"Is it something about--Miss Hunsden?" hesitatingly. "I thought mamma
looked displeased at dinner."

"Displeased!" exclaimed the young man, with a short laugh; "that is a
mild way of putting it. Mamma is inclined to play the Grand Mogul in
my case as she did with you and poor Fred Douglas."

"Oh, brother!"

"Forgive me, Milly. I'm a brute and you're an angel, if there ever was
one on earth! But I've been hectored and lectured, and badgered and
bothered until I'm fairly beside myself. She wants me to marry Lady
Louise, and I won't marry Lady Louise if she was the last woman alive.
Milly, who was Miss Hunsden's mother?"

"Her mother? I'm sure I don't know. I was quite a little girl when
Captain Hunsden was here before, and Harrie was a pretty little
curly-haired fairy of three years. I remember her so well. Captain
Hunsden dined here once or twice, and I recollect perfectly how gloomy
and morose his manner was. I was quite frightened at him. You were at
Eton then, you know."

"I know!" impatiently. "I wish to Heaven I had not been. Boy as I
was, I should have learned something. Did you never hear the cause of
the captain's gloom?"

"No; papa and mamma knew nothing, and Captain Hunsden kept his own
secrets. They had heard of his marriage some four or five years
before--a low marriage, it was rumored--an actress, or something
equally objectionable. Little Harrie knew nothing--at three years it
was hardly likely; but she never prattled of her mother as children of
that age usually do. There is some mystery about Captain Hunsden's
wife, and--pardon me--if you like Miss Hunsden, you ought to have it
cleared up."

Everard laughed--a harsh, strident laugh.

"If I like Miss Hunsden, my dear little non-committal Milly. Am I to
go to Hunsden Hall and say to its master, 'Look here, Captain Hunsden,
give me proofs of your marriage--tell me all about your mysterious
wife. You have a very handsome, high-spirited daughter, b