ue of the prize and the nature of the man, began to fear that
she had been remiss in her duty as chaperon. As Emily came down and
joined the party at last, she was perfectly regardless either of
their frowns or smiles. There had been one last compact made between
the lovers.

"George," she had said, "whatever it may cost us, let there be no
secrets."

"Of course not," he replied.

"I will tell Mamma to-night; and you must tell Papa. You will promise
me?"

"Certainly. It is what I should insist on doing myself. I could not
stay in his house under other circumstances. But you too must promise
me one thing, Emily."

"What is it?"

"You will be true to me, even though he should refuse his consent?"

She paused before she answered him.

"I will be true to you. I cannot be otherwise than true to you. My
love was a thing to give, but when given I cannot take it back. I
will be true to you, but of course we cannot be married unless Papa
consents."

He urged her no further. He was too wise to think it possible that he
could do so without injuring his cause. Then they found the others,
and Emily made her apologies to Mrs. Fitzpatrick for the delay with a
quiet dignity that struck her Cousin George almost with awe. How had
it been that such a one as he had won so great a creature?

George, as he was driven home by his young companion, was full of
joyous chatter and light small talk. He had done a good stroke of
business, and was happy. If only the Baronet could be brought round,
all the troubles which had enveloped him since a beard had first
begun to grow on his chin would disappear as a mist beneath the
full rays of the sun; or even if there still might be a trouble or
two,--and as he thought of his prospects he remembered that they
could not all be made to disappear in the mist fashion,--there would
be that which would gild the clouds. At any rate he had done a good
stroke of business. And he loved the girl too. He thought that of all
the girls he had seen about town, or about the country either, she
was the bonniest and the brightest and the most clever. It might well
have been that a poor devil like he in search of an heiress might
have been forced to put up with personal disadvantages,--with age,
with plain looks, with vulgar manners, with low birth; but here, so
excellent was his fortune, there was everything which fortune could
give! Love her? Of course he loved her. He would do anything on earth
for her. An