losing his watch
with a sigh of satisfaction.

'You should have told him so, papa, and advanced him some money.'

'It is an excellent thing, my dear Eugenie, for a young man to be kept
on tenterhooks. Otherwise they soon get above themselves.'

'You have driven him into debt, papa.'

'What on earth do you mean?'

'I have been questioning Mr. Cuningham. He doesn't know, but he
_thinks_ Mr. Watson has been lending him money.'

'Artists are always so good to one another,' said Lord Findon,
complacently. 'Nice fellow, Watson--but quite mad.'

'Papa, you are incorrigible. I tell you he has been in great straits.
He has not been able to buy a winter overcoat, and Mr. Cuningham
suspects he has often not had enough to eat. He does illustration-work
the greater part of the night--_et cetera_.'

'The way you pile on the agony, my dear!' said Lord Findon, rising.
'What I see you want is that I should write the check, and then go
with you to call on the young man?'

'Precisely!' said Eugenie, nodding.

Lord Findon looked at her.

'And that you suppose is your own idea?'

Eugenie waited--interrogatively.

'Do you know why I have never said a word to the young man about
money?'

'Because you forgot it,' said Eugenie, smiling.

'Not in the least,' said Lord Findon, flushing like a school-boy found
out; 'I wanted my little sensation at the end.'

'My very epicurean papa!' said Eugenie, caressing him. 'I see! Young
man in a garret--starving--_au desespoir._ Enter Providence, _alias_
my papa--with fame in one hand and gold in the other. Ah, _que tu es
comedien, mon pere. A la bonne heure_!--I now order the carriage!'

She moved toward the bell, but paused suddenly:--

'I forgot--Arthur was to come before six.'

A slight silence fell between the father and daughter.

Lord Findon cleared his throat, took up the evening paper and laid it
down again.

'Eugenie!'

'Yes, papa.'

Lord Findon went up to her and took her hand. She stood with downcast
eyes, the other hand playing with the folds of her dress. Her father's
face was discomposed.

'Eugenie!' he broke out. 'I don't think he ought to come so much.
Forgive me, dear!'

'You only think what I have thought for a long time,' she said, in a
low voice, without raising her eyes. 'But to-day I sent for him.'

'Because?'--Lord Findon's face expressed a quick and tender anxiety.

'I want to persuade him--to marry Elsie Bligh.'

Lord Findon made a hurried excla