ly admits of confidential intercourse as to proposed
wives, and Archie was obliged to remain quiet on that subject all the
afternoon. He cunningly, however, lost a little money to Boodle, for
Boodle liked to win, and engaged himself to dine at the same table with
his friend. Their dinner they ate almost in silence--unless when they
abused the cook, or made to each other some pithy suggestion as to the
expediency of this or that delicacy--bearing always steadily in view the
cost as well as desirability of the viands. Boodle had no shame in not
having this or that because it was dear. To dine with the utmost luxury
at the smallest expense was a proficiency belonging to him, and of which
he was very proud.

But after a while the cloth was gone, and the heads of the two men were
brought near together over the small table. Boodle did not speak a word
till his brother captain had told his story, had pointed out all the
advantages to be gained, explained in what peculiar way the course lay
open to himself, and made the whole thing clear to his friend's eye.

"They say she's been a little queer, don't they?" said the friendly
counsellor.

"Of course people talk, you know."

"Talk, yes; they're talking a doosed sight, I should say. There's no
mistake about the money, I suppose?"

"Oh, none," said Archie, shaking his head vigorously. "Hugh managed all
that for her, so I know it."

"She don't lose any of it because she enters herself for running again,
does she?"

"Not a shilling. That's the beauty of it."

"Was you ever sweet on her before?"

"What! before Ongar took her? O laws, no. She hadn't a rap, you know;
and knew how to spend money as well as any girl in London."

"It's all to begin then, Clavvy; all the up-hill work to be done?"

"Well, yes; I don't know about up-hill, Doodles. What do you mean by
up-hill?"

"I mean that seven thousand a year ain't usually to be picked up merely
by trotting easy along the fiat. And this sort of work is very up-hill,
generally, I take it--unless, you know, a fellow has a fancy for it. If
a fellow is really sweet on a girl, he likes it, I suppose."

"She's a doosed handsome woman, you know, Doodles."

"I don't know anything about it, except that I suppose Ongar wouldn't
have taken her if she hadn't stood well on her pasterns, and had some
breeding about her. I never thought much of her sister--your brother's
wife, you know--that is, in the way of looks. No doubt she runs
s