m ready," said her father, getting up and shaking
himself.

"Now, old darling," she said to Jude. "Come along, as you promised."

"When did I promise anything?" asked he, whom she had made so tipsy
by her special knowledge of that line of business as almost to have
made him sober again--or to seem so to those who did not know him.

"Why!" said Arabella, affecting dismay. "You've promised to marry me
several times as we've sat here to-night. These gentlemen have heard
you."

"I don't remember it," said Jude doggedly. "There's only one
woman--but I won't mention her in this Capharnaum!"

Arabella looked towards her father. "Now, Mr. Fawley be honourable,"
said Donn. "You and my daughter have been living here together these
three or four days, quite on the understanding that you were going to
marry her. Of course I shouldn't have had such goings on in my house
if I hadn't understood that. As a point of honour you must do it
now."

"Don't say anything against my honour!" enjoined Jude hotly,
standing up. "I'd marry the W---- of Babylon rather than do
anything dishonourable! No reflection on you, my dear. It is a
mere rhetorical figure--what they call in the books, hyperbole."

"Keep your figures for your debts to friends who shelter you," said
Donn.

"If I am bound in honour to marry her--as I suppose I am--though
how I came to be here with her I know no more than a dead man--marry
her I will, so help me God! I have never behaved dishonourably to
a woman or to any living thing. I am not a man who wants to save
himself at the expense of the weaker among us!"

"There--never mind him, deary," said she, putting her cheek against
Jude's. "Come up and wash your face, and just put yourself tidy, and
off we'll go. Make it up with Father."

They shook hands. Jude went upstairs with her, and soon came down
looking tidy and calm. Arabella, too, had hastily arranged herself,
and accompanied by Donn away they went.

"Don't go," she said to the guests at parting. "I've told the little
maid to get the breakfast while we are gone; and when we come back
we'll all have some. A good strong cup of tea will set everybody
right for going home."

When Arabella, Jude, and Donn had disappeared on their matrimonial
errand the assembled guests yawned themselves wider awake, and
discussed the situation with great interest. Tinker Taylor, being
the most sober, reasoned the most lucidly.

"I don't wish to speak a