puzzled Colonel, "are you committed?"

"No one can be more so."

"Engaged!!!"

"I thought you would have known it from themselves; but I find she has
forbidden her mother to mention it till she has seen me again. And they
talk of quiet, and shut me out!" gloomily added Alick.

The Colonel conceived a hope that the lady would abjure matrimony, and
release this devoted knight, but in a few moments Alick burst out--

"Absurd! She cannot mend with anything on her mind! If I could have seen
Mrs. Curtis or Grace alone, they might have heard reason, but that old
woman of a doctor was prosing about quiet and strain on the nerves. I
know that sort of quiet, the best receipt for distraction!"

"Well, Alick," said his friend, smiling, "you have at least convinced me
that your heart is in the matter."

"How should it not be?" returned Alick.

"I was afraid it was only with the object of unjust vituperation."

"No such thing. Let me tell you, Colonel, my heart has been in it ever
since I felt the relief of meeting real truth and unselfishness! I
liked her that first evening, when she was manfully chasing us off
for frivolous danglers round her cousin! I liked her for having no
conventionalities, fast or slow, and especially for hating heroes! And
when my sister had helped to let her get into this intolerable web, how
could I look on without feeling the nobleness that has never shifted
blame from herself, but bowed, owned all, suffered--suffered--oh, how
grievously!"

The Colonel was moved. "With such genuine affection you should surely
lead her and work upon her! I trust you will be able."

"It is less that," said Alick, rather resentfully, "than sympathy that
she wants. Nobody ever gave her that except your Ermine! By-the-bye, is
there any news of the brother?"

Colonel Keith shook his head. "I believe I shall have to go to Russia,"
he said with some dejection.

"After that, reproach one with chivalry," said Alick, lightly. "Nay, I
beg your pardon. Shall I take any message down to Mackarel Lane?"

"Are you going?"

"Well, yes, though I hardly ought to venture there till this embargo
is taken off; for she is the one person there will be some pleasure in
talking to. Perhaps I may reckon you as the same in effect."

The Colonel responded with a less cheerful look than usual, adding, "I
don't know whether to congratulate you, Alick, on having to ask no one's
consent but your own at your age."

"Especially not my g