but they were not
quite prepared to hear them so soon confirmed. Lorimer told the matter
in his own way.

"I say, you fellows!" he remarked carelessly, as he sat smoking in their
company on deck, "you'd better look out! If you stare at Miss Gueldmar
too much, you'll have Phil down upon you!"

"Ha, ha!" exclaimed Duprez slyly, "the dear Phil-eep is in love?"

"Something more than that," said Lorimer, looking absently at the
cigarette he held between his fingers,--"he's an engaged man."

"Engaged!" cried Macfarlane excitedly. "Ma certes! He has the deevil's
own luck! He's just secured for himself the grandest woman in the
warld!"

"_Je le crois bien!_" said Duprez gravely, nodding his head several
times. "Phil-eep is a wise boy! He is the fortunate one! I am not for
marriage at all--no! not for myself,--it is to tie one's hands, to
become a prisoner,--and that would not suit me; but if I were inclined
to captivity, I should like Mademoiselle Gueldmar for my beautiful
gaoler. And beautiful she is, _mon Dieu!_ . . . beyond all comparison!"

Lorimer was silent, so was Macfarlane. After a pause Duprez spoke again.

"And do you know, _cher_ Lorimer, when our Phil-eep will marry?"

"I haven't the slightest idea," returned Lorimer. "I know he's engaged,
that's all."

Suddenly Macfarlane broke into a chuckling laugh.

"I say, Lorimer," he said, with his deep-set, small grey eyes sparkling
with mischief. "'Twould be grand fun to see auld Dyceworthy's face when
he hears o't. By the Lord! He'll fall to cursin' an' swearin' like ma
pious aunt in Glasgie, or that auld witch that cursed Miss Thelma
yestreen!"

"An eminently unpleasant old woman _she_ was!" said Lorimer musingly. "I
wonder what she meant by it!"

"She meant, _mon cher_," said Duprez airily, "that she knew herself to
be ugly and venerable, while Mademoiselle was youthful and
ravishing,--it is a sufficient reason to excite profanity in the mind of
a lady!"

"Here comes Errington!" said Macfarlane, pointing to the approaching
boat that was coming swiftly back from the Gueldmars' pier. "Lorimer, are
we to congratulate him?"

"If you like!" returned Lorimer. "I dare say he won't object."

So that as soon as Sir Philip set foot on the yacht, his hands were
cordially grasped, and his friends out-vied each other in good wishes
for his happiness. He thanked them simply and with a manly
straightforwardness, entirely free from the usual affected embarrassment
t