om an
ordinary policeman would have been difficult to her nature.

Of course, Chawner very soon found it out and was a good bit amused and a
thought vexed also, since he counted on a year at least of Cicely's
company, though well knowing such a lovely young woman weren't going to
devote herself to his middle-aged convenience for ever. He inquired
concerning Samuel Borlase, and Inspector Chowne gave it as his opinion
that the material was there, but explained that Sam stood all untried as
yet and his value still doubtful.

And meantime Cicely took tea along with Samuel's mother and his old aunt,
who lived with them, and told her father they were dear old people and a
very nice and interesting pair indeed; because if you're in love, the
belongings of the charmer always seem quite all right at first and worthy
of all praise.

In fact, Sam and Cicely lived for each other, as the saying is, afore six
weeks were spent, and on Christmas Day, being off duty at the time, the
policeman took an afternoon walk with Cicely Green and asked her to marry
him.

"You know me," he said, "and very like a common constable lies far beneath
your views, as well he may; but there it is: I love you, to the soles of
my feet, and if, by a miracle of wonder, you was to think I could win you,
I'd slave to do so for evermore, my dinky dear."

"'Tis no odds you're a policeman," she said. "You've got to be something.
And you very well know I love you, and life's properly empty when you
ain't with me. There's nought else in the world that matters to me but
only you."

With that the man swallowed her in his great arms and took his first kiss
off her. In fact, the world went very well for 'em, till they stood afore
Chawner, who demanded time. Indeed, he appeared to be a good bit vexed
about it.

"Dash my wig!" he said, "who be you, you hulking bobby, to come upsetting
my family arrangements and knocking my well-laid plans on the head in this
fashion? Sis came here to look after me, didn't she, not to look after
you. And 'tis all moonshine in my opinion, and I doubt if you know your
own minds, for that's a thing this generation of youth never is known to
do. And, be it as it will, time must pass--oceans of time--afore I can
figure all this out and say whether 'tis to be, or whether it ain't."

They expected something like that, and Cicely had a plan.

"If Sam was to come and live along with you, father," she said, "then I
shouldn't leave you at