oint with great energy, but still with many signs that he was
ill at ease at his work. "I was, by Jove!"

"And of what were you thinking, Captain Clavering?"

"I was thinking--of course you know, Julia, that since poor little
Hughy's death, I am the next in for the title?"

"Poor Hughy! I'm sure you are too generous to rejoice at that."

"Indeed I am. When two fellows offered me a dinner at the club on the
score of my chances, I wouldn't have it. But there's the fact; isn't
it?"

"There is no doubt of that, I believe."

"None on earth; and the most of it is entailed, too; not that Hugh would
leave an acre away from the title. I'm as safe as wax as far as that is
concerned. I don't suppose he ever borrowed a shilling or mortgaged an
acre in his life."

"I should think he was a prudent man."

"We are both of us prudent. I will say that of myself; though I oughtn't
to say it. And now, Julia--a few words are the best after all. Look
here--if you'll take me just as I am, I'm blessed if I shan't be the
happiest fellow in all London. I shall indeed. I've always been uncommon
fond of you, though I never said anything about it in the old days,
because--because you see, what's the use of a man asking a girl to marry
him if they haven't got a farthing between them. I think it's wrong; I
do, indeed; but it's different now, you know." It certainly was very
different now.

"Captain Clavering," she said, "I'm sorry you should have troubled
yourself with such an idea as this."

"Don't say that, Julia. It's no trouble; it's a pleasure."

"But such a thing as you mean never can take place."

"Yes, it can. Why can't it? I ain't in a hurry. I'll wait your own time,
and do just whatever you wish all the while. Don't say no without
thinking about it, Julia."

"It is one of those things, Captain Clavering, which want no more
thinking than what a woman can give to it at the first moment."

"Ah--you think so now, because you're surprised a little."

"Well; I am surprised a little, as our previous intercourse was never of
a nature to make such a proposition as this at all probable."

"That was merely because I didn't think it right," said Archie, who, now
that he had worked himself into the vein, liked the sound of his own
voice. "It was indeed."

"And I don't think it right now. You must listen to me for a moment,
Captain Clavering--for fear of a mistake. Believe me, any such plan as
this is quite out of the question; quite