what I call bound. She's a handsome woman you
know,--very handsome."

"I suppose so."

"And she'd do the drawing-room well, and the sitting at the top of
the table, and all that kind of thing."

"But it's such a deuced heavy price to pay," said Captain McCollop.

"I should not have minded the price," said Sir Francis, not quite
understanding his friend's remark, "if she hadn't made me ridiculous
in this way. The Fiascos and the Disgrazias! What the devil are they
to our old English families? If she had let it remain as it was,
I might have gone through with it. But as she has told all Exeter
and got that stuff put into the newspapers, she must take the
consequences. One is worse than another, as far as I can see." By
this Sir Francis intended to express his opinion that Miss Altifiorla
was at any rate quite as bad as Cecilia Holt.

But the next thing to be decided was the mode of escape. Though Sir
Francis had declared that he was not what he called bound, yet he
knew that he must take some steps in the matter to show that he
considered himself to be free; and as the Captain was a clever man,
and well conversant with such things, he was consulted. "I should
say, take a run abroad for a short time," said the Captain.

"Is that necessary?"

"You'd avoid some of the disagreeables. People will talk, and your
relatives at Exeter might kick up a row."

"Oh, d---- my relatives."

"With all my heart. But people have such a way of making themselves
disgusting. What do you say to taking a run through the States?"

"Would you go with me?" asked the Baronet.

"If you wish it I shouldn't mind," said the Captain considerately.
"Only to do any good we should be off quickly. But you must write to
some one first."

"Before I start, you think?"

"Oh, yes;--certainly. If she didn't hear from you before you went,
you'd be persecuted by her letters."

"There is no end to her letters. I've quite made up my mind what I'll
do about them. I won't open one of them. After all, why should she
write to me when the affair is over? You've heard of Mrs. Western, I
suppose?"

"Yes; I've heard of her."

"I didn't write to her when that affair was over. I didn't pester her
with long-winded scrawls. She changed her mind, and I've changed
mine; and so we're equal. I've paid her, and she can pay me if she
knows how."

"I hope Miss Altifiorla will look at it in the same light," said the
Captain.

"Why shouldn't she? She knew all ab