y. If it pleases you to have it
early I am willing.'

'Dare I ask that it may be this week?' said the delighted old man.

'I could not say that.'

'But you can name the earliest day?'

'I cannot now. We had better be going from here, I think.'

The Cathedral was filling with shadows, and cold breathings came round
the piers, for it was November, when night very soon succeeds noon in
spots where noon is sobered to the pallor of eve. But the service was
not yet over, and before quite leaving the building Ethelberta cast one
other glance towards the organ and thought of him behind it. At this
moment her attention was arrested by the form of her sister Picotee, who
came in at the north door, closed the lobby-wicket softly, and went
lightly forward to the choir. When within a few yards of it she paused
by a pillar, and lingered there looking up at the organ as Ethelberta had
done. No sound was coming from the ponderous mass of tubes just then;
but in a short space a whole crowd of tones spread from the instrument to
accompany the words of a response. Picotee started at the burst of music
as if taken in a dishonest action, and moved on in a manner intended to
efface the lover's loiter of the preceding moments from her own
consciousness no less than from other people's eyes.

'Do you see that?' said Ethelberta. 'That little figure is my dearest
sister. Could you but ensure a marriage between her and him she listens
to, I would do anything you wish!'

'That is indeed a gracious promise,' said Lord Mountclere. 'And would
you agree to what I asked just now?'

'Yes.'

'When?' A gleeful spark accompanied this.

'As you requested.'

'This week? The day after to-morrow?'

'If you will. But remember what lies on your side of the contract. I
fancy I have given you a task beyond your powers.'

'Well, darling, we are at one at last,' said Lord Mountclere, rubbing his
hand against his side. 'And if my task is heavy and I cannot guarantee
the result, I can make it very probable. Marry me on Friday--the day
after to-morrow--and I will do all that money and influence can effect to
bring about their union.'

'You solemnly promise? You will never cease to give me all the aid in
your power until the thing is done?'

'I do solemnly promise--on the conditions named.'

'Very good. You will have ensured my fulfilment of my promise before I
can ensure yours; but I take your word.'

'You will marry me on Friday