s and a boy on board. What could be cheaper than that? And you
could live the simple life to any extent that you liked! But of course
something larger would be wanted for Argentine, and she couldn't be
fitted out in time. No, Peter, I think I 'll risk having the heavy
hand of the law laid upon me at starting, and we 'll just have to lump
it and go in a mail steamer.'

Peter laughed. 'My bold buccaneer!' he said.

They sat silent for a time in the drawing-room with its crude colours
and priceless china, while the big fire in the burnished steel grate
roared with a jolly sound up the big chimney, and the air was frosty
and cold outside. The room despite its hideousness was full of
pleasant recollections to them both, for when Hulworth was not let
Toffy had often assembled bachelor parties there, and it had always
been a second home to Peter, where he had been wont to keep a couple of
guns and some of his 'things.'

The actual journey to Argentine was not a matter demanding any courage
on the part of either of the young men, but the result of the journey
might have a grave effect on the fortune of Peter Ogilvie. Tomorrow
was to have been his wedding-day; and this fact being persistently
present to both men, they left the subject to the last. It was with an
effort that Peter said, before they parted for the night, 'Whatever
happens, we mean to try to be married when I come back. Jane is
awfully plucky about it, but this confounded Court of Chancery does not
seem to regard me with much favour at present.'

'It's only for a year,' said Toffy hopefully. 'Let's make a solemn
covenant that we shall meet in this very room on the 25th of October
1911, with the wedding-day fixed for to-morrow again.'

'Where is your Bible?' said Peter. 'If you haven't one in your pocket
or under your pillow, will it do if I kiss your account-book?'

'The whole thing can be just as we intended it to be,' said Toffy
cheerfully. 'And this time next year Jane will be staying with Miss
Abingdon, and old Wrot will be ironing out his surplice--at least Mrs.
Wrot will, and he 'll look on and think he 's doing it. And I 'll be
here, probably with a cold in my head as usual, and thereto I plight
thee my troth!'

He fingered in his pocket the wedding-ring which Peter had given him
for safe custody, and the care of which had seriously disturbed his
slumbers at night. 'I 'll keep the ring until then, Peter, and place
it on the third finger