and act
promptly."

A laugh escaped Dunham. "Has it come to this!" he returned. "I never
expected you to urge me in this direction."

The judge made an expansive gesture. "Simply because I expect you'll
marry anyway, and Edna Derwents don't grow on every bush. Can't you
understand? Of course, I don't know much about your finances, really."

"Is that the whole question?" asked Dunham. "If I didn't need a banker,
should you be reminding me that a young man married is a man that's
marred, and all that sort of thing?"

"No,"--the judge shrugged his little shoulders. "Things have gone too
far for that." He began to cut open his niece's letter. "After your
tearing up that deed, I'm not the man to waste my energy."

He leaned back in his chair, and began to read the letter.

Dunham endeavored to fix his attention on his work; but the corners of
the judge's lips were drawing down, and once John thought he started.
The silk hat was pushed to the last extremity of the back of his head;
and once he slowly turned and cast a look at his assistant. Dunham,
like a schoolboy discovered in idleness, cleared his throat and began
making an ostentatious stir among his papers.

When Judge Trent finally folded the letter his face wore an expression
that few had seen upon it. His eyes fastened on a spot upon his desk,
while his thoughts wrestled.

Once again he stole a look at Dunham's profile, and there was a queer
stirring at his heart. With sudden determination he rose, and, moving
over to the other desk, stood behind John's chair and rested both his
bony hands on the broad shoulders.

"I've had a blow, my boy," he said, and his voice was husky.

Dunham swung around and half rose. "Sylvia! Has something happened?" he
ejaculated.

"No, no, John. I could almost say I wish it were a worse blow for me
than for you."

The young man settled down again, his back to the judge, whose nervous
clutch seemed to desire to hold him in this position. "It's strange it
should come just now, when we had but just been talking on the subject.
Edna--I'm afraid Edna's lost to you, Boy."

Dunham remained with his elbow on his desk, where he had rested it
after Judge Trent's startling introduction. The latter waited a moment,
regarding the back of the other's head. "Sylvia says Edna's engagement
is to be announced at a dinner to-night."

"Edna engaged?"

"Yes, and to a Britisher." Judge Trent's subdued tone suddenly became
violent. "How long h