y, Aunt William?"

"None like that."

"Well, while you're alone I've got some news to tell you. Sylvia would
have come herself, but she's engaged--this afternoon."

"Not engaged to be married, I suppose!" said Aunt William, with a sort
of triumphal archness.

"Yes, you've hit it in once. At least, up to a certain point. It'll be
all right. But the Governor's a bit nasty--and the fact is, we want you
to come and see him, and sort of talk him over, you know."

"Savile! Do you mean it? How charming!... But who's the young man--and
what's the objection?"

Savile thought a moment, and remembered her tinge of snobbishness. "He's
Sir Bryce Woodville's nephew. Chap who died. I mean, the uncle died.
It's Woodville, _you_ know!"

"Your father's secretary?"

"Yes, and a rattling good chap, too. Sylvia's liked him for ages, and he
didn't like to come up to the scratch because he was hard up. Now
something's turned up. Old Ridokanaki's written him a letter--wants him
to go into his bank. He'll have three thousand a year. It's only _habit_
with the Governor to pretend to mind. But a few words with you will
settle it. I'll tell you more about it later on."

"I _am_ amazed at the news, Savile. He's a very fine young man, but----"

"He's all right, Aunt William."

"But I thought the Greek gentleman with the unpronounceable name was
madly in love with Sylvia himself? I've often talked it over with your
father. He and I took opposite views."

"So he was, but he's got some one else now. It's simply _got_ to come
off. Now _will_ you come and see us?"

"Certainly. When?"

"As soon as possible. I wish you'd come now."

"But this is my Day, Savile! How can I go out on my _Day_?"

"Of course you can. You'll have heaps of other days, but none like
this--for Sylvia."

Aunt William hesitated, then her intense romantic curiosity got the
upper hand.

"Savile, I'll come back with you now! Do you think James will listen to
reason? He never agrees with me. And I don't know yet what to think
myself."

"Of course he will. You're a brick, Aunt William. I'll tell you more
about it in the cab. It's as right as rain for Sylvia, or you may be
pretty certain _I_ shouldn't have allowed it," said Savile.

To get Aunt William to go out on her Day, a thing she had not done for
thirty years, was so great a triumph that he had little fear of not
getting her to be on the right side. He knew she always made a point of
disagreeing with his fa