ange the rich lace of his
steenkirk with gentle fingers.

"Gad save my poor perishing soul!" he sighed, "but you're a very
persistent nunky!"

"Tom," said the Major softly, "you--you love my lady Betty, I think?"

The Viscount, sitting beside him, was silent a moment, still pulling
gently at the lace of his cravat.

"And--and always shall, sir," he answered at last.

"This," said the Major, staring straight before him, "this brings me to
a matter I have long wished to touch upon--and desired to tell thee,
Tom. For I also thought--that she ... I ... we..."

"Love each other, sir," said the Viscount gently.

"You knew this, Tom?"

"Sir, I guessed it a few days since."

The Major bowed his head and was silent awhile.

"Pancras," said he at last, "'twas none of my seeking. I thought
myself too old for love--beyond the age. But Love stole on me all
unbeknown, Love gave me back my vanished youth, changed the world into
a paradise wherein I, dreaming that she loved me, found a joy, a
happiness so great no words may tell of it. And in this paradise I
lived until--last night, and last night I found it but the very
paradise o' fools, dear lad----"

"Last night!" exclaimed the Viscount, "last night sir?"

"I chanced to walk in the lane, Tom."

The Viscount clenched white hand and smote it on his knee:

"Damn him!" he cried, "he must ha' bewitched her in some infernal
manner! That Betty should act so--'tis incredible! Yet 'twas none so
dark! And I saw! 'Twas shameless--a vulgar country-wench would
never----"

"Hush, Tom, hush!" cried the Major, flushing. "She's--after all she's
so young, Tom, young and a little
wilful--high-spirited--and--and--young, as 'twere----"

"Betty's no child, sir, and 'fore heaven----"

"'Tis strange I missed you, Tom," said the Major a little hastily.

"The lane makes a bend there sir, and when I saw I stopped----"

"So here's the true cause of your quarrel, Tom?"

"Nay, sir, I've known Betty from childhood, I've honoured and loved her
but--'twas not so much on her account----"

"Then whose, Tom?"

"Why sir I--knew you loved her too----"

"God bless thee, lad!" said the Major and thereafter they sat awhile
staring studiously away from each other.

"The vile dog hath bewitched her somehow!" explained the Viscount
suddenly at last, "I've heard tell o' such cases ere now, sir."

"Heaven send he bewitch none other sweet soul!" said the Major
fervently.

"He sha'n't-