ar he actually keeps his
eyes, so to speak, on that grand-daughter in Canada. The agent who pays
the annuity reports to him."

"The deuce!--you make me quite hot, Kate. Are you inventing just out of
chaff?"

"No, honour bright. Mamma was talking about it; and seems he heard rather
an unpleasant rumour the other day."

"Come, that's better. What has the young woman been a-doing of?"

"Run away, or something. I overheard mamma telling old Lady Calvert; but
they nodded and winked and interjected I couldn't clearly make it out. I
was writing a letter at the davenport, and in the glass opposite observed
them. I don't generally burden my mind much with the conversation of my
elders, but something in the alertness of their attitudes and flutter of
their caps made me contemplatively bite my pen and--attend. A breach of
confidence on the maternal side, I should surmise, for she declined
satisfying my laudable curiosity when I pumped her afterwards, and seemed
alarmed at my having heard anything."

"I had no idea," exclaimed Harry, "that he took the slightest interest in
that girl; and, hang it all, Kate, she _is_ the rightful heir. Perhaps he
looks on her as a second string in case I don't carry out all his
arbitrary wishes."

"Yes, I shouldn't recommend your running counter to him gratuitously. To
tell you the truth, I thought you rather a lunatic keeping away so long
after coming on shore,"--and Kate gazed searchingly into Harry's face,
who blushed, and then frowned under the scrutiny.

"Ah!" murmured the fair inquisitor, "then there _was_ something--a woman
in the case, of course: there always is."

"I tell you what," cried Dutton, recovering himself, "if you begin
supposing improbabilities about me, I'll turn detective on you and
Dashwood."

"Sea manners again! and when I was so kind--putting you on your guard.
But, never mind, Harry, though I _think_ what I please, I shan't peach
_if you don't_."

"Let us seal the treaty," passing one arm round her waist. "Give me a
kiss, Kate--you haven't yet."

"Anything in reason, which sealing treaties in a vista opposite Uncle
Bromley's study windows is _not_."

A few paces rectified that objection; but Dutton relapsed into a brown
study, and Kate fell to thinking of Colonel Dashwood; and so they
wandered on till the girl spoke again.

"What port have you left your heart in, Harry?"

"My dear, I have none. I left it in your charge when I went to sea, and
have never a