fuses love in return.

"Ah, Stafford, if--if it were all over, and we were away in the country
somewhere?"

"Why don't we go?" he asked, with absolute indifference to the social
plots and schemes which were being woven round him.

She laughed.

"In a little while! Sir Stephen wants a change; he is looking rather
fagged--"

"I'm not surprised!" said Stafford. "It seems to me that my father
rests neither night nor day--"

"Ah, well, it will soon be over--perhaps before you expect," she said,
smiling mysteriously. "Hush! Here he comes! You bad boy, you have
spoilt my hair,"--she herself had disarranged it as she pressed against
his breast. "I must run away and have it put straight."

Sir Stephen entered a moment after she had left the room. He looked
fagged to-night, as she had said; but his face lit up at sight of
Stafford.

"Ah, my boy!" he exclaimed, holding Stafford's hand for a moment or two
and scanning him with his usual expression of pride and affection. "We
are going to have a big night: the greatest crush we have had. Didn't I
hear Maude's voice?"

Stafford said that she had just gone out. Sir Stephen nodded musingly,
and glanced at Stafford's grave face.

"I suppose the hurly-burly will be over presently," he said, "and we
can go down to the country. Where would you like to go?"

Stafford shrugged his shoulders, and Sir Stephen eyed him rather sadly
and anxiously. This indifference of Stafford's was quite a new thing.

"Don't mind? What do you say to Brae Wood, then?"

Stafford's face flushed.

"Not there--Wouldn't it be rather hot at Bryndermere, sir? Why not
Scotland?"

Sir Stephen nodded.

"All right. Wherever you like, my boy. We've still got some years of
the Glenfare place. We'll go there. And, Stafford--do you ever remember
that I am getting old?"

Stafford laughed and looked at the handsome face affectionately and
with the admiration and pride with which a son regards a good-looking
father.

"Yes; I suppose you must be nearly thirty, sir!"

Sir Stephen laughed, not ill-pleased at the retort.

"Seriously, Staff, I'm older than you think, and--er--Ah, well, we're
all mortal! Do you think you could oblige me in a little matter--"

He paused.

Stafford looked at him with a half smile.

"Sounds as if you wanted to borrow money, sir. Anything I can do--"

Sir Stephen laughed.

"No, I'm not in want of money: but I'm in want of a daughter-in-law, of
grandchildren to sit upon my