e to look after
you--"

"Father, father! What are you saying? I'm sure the doctor has told you
something. I saw you looking very strange yesterday, and holding your
hand over your heart."

The colonel wanted to exclaim, "Indigestion!" but he shook his head, and
sighed mournfully once more.

"It's anxiety, my child, about your welfare. It's telling on me."

"I don't want to be an anxiety to you, father. I know I've not been a
cheerful companion lately, but--it will be worse for you when I get
married."

"Nothing of the sort, my girl. Ormsby and I have settled that we are not
to be separated. He's looking out for a big place, where there'll be a
corner for an old man. Come, come, have done with this shilly-shallying.
What on earth is the use of a two years' engagement? At the end of the
two years, do you suppose you will be able to break your word and
Ormsby's heart? No, my girl, it's not right. Either you are going to
marry Ormsby, or you are not. If you are, then it might as well be
to-morrow as next month, and next month as next year. And as for two
years--bah! Come, now, I'll fix it for you: four weeks from to-day."

"Impossible, father--impossible! I couldn't get my clothes ready--"

"Clothes be hanged! He's going to marry you, not your kit. You've got
clothes enough to supply a boarding-school. Six weeks--I give you six
weeks.--Ah! here's Ormsby. Ormsby, it's settled. Dora is to marry you in
six weeks, or--she's no child of mine."

"I--I didn't say so, father," cried Dora, blushing hotly.

"I'm the happiest man in America!" cried Ormsby, coming over with
outstretched hands, and a greater show of feeling than he had ever before
displayed. He looked exceedingly handsome, and almost boyish.

"Say it is true!--say it is true!" he cried.

"Oh, as you please, as you please." And, turning to her father to hide
her embarrassment, Dora murmured, "You're not really ill, father?"

"I tell you, my child, I shall be," roared the colonel, with a wink at
Ormsby, "if this anxiety goes on any longer. Publish the date, Ormsby.
Put it in the papers."

"At once!" cried the delighted lover. "I saw Farebrother to-day, and he
assures me he has just the place we want, not twenty miles out. Shall we
go over in the motor, and look at it? Will you come and choose your
home--our home, Dora?"

"Of course she will," cried the colonel, starting up with wonderful
alacrity for a sick man. "I'll go and order the motor, this minute."