knew you."

"I am speaking metaphorically, Wilfrid. I am at London, and the idea
occurs to me to start for the Amazon and botanize there for a few
months. I pack up and start the next morning. I get there and do not
like the place, and say to myself it is too hot here, let me study the
Arctic flora at Spitzbergen. If I act upon an idea promptly, well and
good, but if I allow any time to elapse between the idea striking me and
my carrying the thing into execution, there is never any saying whether
I may not go off in an entirely different groove during the interval."

"And is there any chance of your going off in any other groove now,
Atherton?" Mr. Renshaw asked.

"No, I think not; just a remote possibility perhaps, but not more than
that. It is so indefinitely small, indeed, that you may--yes, I think
you may safely calculate upon my starting on the day I said, or if I
find a ship at Wellington going on a trading excursion among the
islands, or up to the Straits, or to Japan, I may likely enough take a
passage in her."

"But I thought you said that your business required you to be at home,
Mr. Atherton?"

"Yes, I suppose that is so, Wilfrid; but I daresay my solicitor would
manage it just as well if I did not turn up. Solicitors are people who,
as far as I can see, consider it their duty to bother you, but if they
find that you pay no attention to their letters they manage somehow or
other to get on very well without you. I believe they go into a court
and make affidavits, and get an order authorizing them to sign for you.
I do not know how it generally is done, but that is my experience of
them so far."

Marion had said little that evening, and had indeed been very quiet for
the last few days. She was somewhat indignant at Wilfrid's interference
in what she considered her affairs, and felt that although her father
and mother had said nothing, they too were somewhat disappointed, and
would have been glad had she accepted Bob Allen. Besides she had reasons
of her own for being out of spirits. After breakfast the next morning
Mr. Atherton said: "Marion, when you have finished your domestic duties
and can be spared, suppose you put on your hat and come for a ramble
with me."

There was nothing unusual in the request, for the girl often accompanied
him in his rambles when he was not going far into the forest.

"I shall be ready in half an hour, if your highness can wait so long."

"I am in no hurry, child, and w