'There, that is what I intended, including your Midsummer quarter. Don't
you think it enough?' as she detected a look of dissatisfaction.

'You are very good. It is a tremendous shame; but you see, Honor dear,
when one is across the water, one may as well go the whole animal. If
this wise sister of mine does not get into a mess, there is a good deal I
could do--plenty of sport. Little Henniker and some Westminster fellows
in the ---th are at Kilkenny.'

'You would like to spend the vacation in Ireland,' said Honor, with some
disappointment. 'Well, if you go for my pleasure, it is but fair you
should have your own. Shall I advance your September allowance?'

'Thank you. You do spoil one abominably, you concoction of honey and all
things sweet. But the fact is, I've got uncommonly hard-up of late; no
one would believe how ruinous it is being with the Charterises. I
believe money evaporates in the atmosphere.'

'Betting?' asked Honor, gasping and aghast.

'On my honour, I assure you not _there_,' cried Owen, eagerly, 'I never
did bet there but once, and that was Lolly's doing; and I could not get
out of it. Jew that she is! I wonder what Uncle Kit would say to that
house now.'

'You are out of it, and I shall not regret the purchase of your disgust
at their ways, Owen. It may be better for you to be in Ireland than to
be tempted to go to them for the shooting season. How much do you want?
You know, my dear, if there be anything else, I had rather pay anything
that is right than have you in debt.'

'You were always the sweetest, best Honey living!' cried Owen, with much
agitation; 'and it is a shame--' but there he stopped, and ended in a
more ordinary tone--'shame to prey on you, as we both do, and with no
better return.'

'Never mind, dear Owen,' she said, with moisture in her eye; 'your real
happiness is the only return I want. Come, tell me your difficulty; most
likely I can help you.'

'I've nothing to tell,' said Owen, with alarmed impetuosity; 'only that
I'm a fool, like every one else, and--and--if you would only double
that--'

'Double that! Owen, things cannot be right.'

'I told you they were not right,' was the impatient answer, 'or I should
not be vexing you and myself; and,' as though to smooth away his rough
commencement, 'what a comfort to have a Honey that will have patience!'

She shook her head, perplexed. 'Owen, I wish you could tell me more. I
do not like debts. You know