live in.'

'I'll swear she did. That girl asked you, in plain words, how many hundreds
or thousands you had a year?'

'And I told her. I said, "It sounds humbly, dearest, to tell you we shall
not have fully two thousand a year; but the place we are going to is the
cheapest in the universe, and we shall have a small establishment of not
more than forty black and about a dozen white servants, and at first only
keep twenty horses, taking our carriages on job."'

'What about pin-money?'

'There is not much extravagance in toilet, and so I said she must manage
with a thousand a year.'

'And she didn't laugh in your face?'

'No, sir! nor was there any strain upon her good-breeding to induce her to
laugh in my face.'

'At all events, you discussed the matter in a fine practical spirit. Did
you go into groceries? I hope you did not forget groceries?'

'My dear Lockwood, let me warn you against being droll. You ask me for a
correct narrative, and when I give it, you will not restrain that subtle
sarcasm the mastery of which makes you unassailable.'

'When is it to be? When is it to come off? Has she to write to His Serene
Highness the Prince of What's-his-name?'

'No, the Prince of What's-his-name need not be consulted; Lord Kilgobbin
will stand in the position of father to her.'

Lockwood muttered something, in which 'Give her away!' were the only words
audible. 'I must say,' added he aloud, 'the wooing did not take long.'

'You forget that there was an actual engagement between us when I left this
for London. My circumstances at that time did not permit me to ask her at
once to be my wife; but our affections were pledged, and--even if more
tender sentiments did not determine--my feeling, as a man of honour,
required I should come back here to make her this offer.'

'All right; I suppose it will do--I hope it will do; and after all, I take
it, you are likely to understand each other better than others would.'

'Such is our impression and belief.'

'How will your own people--how will Danesbury like it?'

'For their sakes I trust they will like it very much; for mine, it is less
than a matter of indifference to me.'

'She, however--she will expect to be properly received amongst them?'

'Yes,' cried Walpole, speaking for the first time in a perfectly natural
tone, divested of all pomposity. 'Yes, she stickles for that, Lockwood. It
was the one point she seemed to stand out for. Of course I told her she
would