ks; so if I
fix my affections on her up to the date of the wedding, shall I not be
tempted to continue, and will not a foolish attachment to another man's
sweetheart end in a vicious attachment to another man's wife?"

Once more was the Colonel staggered for a moment, and, oh--as the ladies
say--is it not gratifying to find that where honest reasons go for
nothing, humbug can obtain a moment's hearing? The Colonel admitted there
was something in that; but even humbug could not divert him long from
his mania. "The only thing to be done," said he, "is to cut him out
between this and then. Why, he stands five feet nothing."

"That's the advantage he has over me," suggested Walter; "she is five
feet eight or thereabouts, so he is just the height of her heart."

The Colonel burst out laughing. "You are no fool," said he; "that's the
second good thing you have said these three years. I forget what the
other was, but I remember it startled me at the time. You are a wit, and
you will cut out that manikin or you are no son of mine."

"Don't say that, father," said Walter; "and cutting out, why, that's a
naval operation, not military. I am not the son of an admiral."

"No equivocation, sir; the forces assist one another at a pinch."

"How can I cut him out?--there's no room, he is tied to her apron
strings."

"Untie him, then."

At this moment, whether because Hope attracted everybody in the course of
the day, or because talking about people draws them to the place by some
subtle agency, who should appear in sight but Miss Julia Clifford, and
little Fitzroy wooing her so closely that really he did seem tied to her
apron strings.

"There," said Walter, "now use your eyes, father; look at this amorous
pair. Do you really think it possible for a fellow to untie those two?"

"Quite possible," said the Colonel. "Walter," said he, sententiously,
"there's a little word in the English language which is one of the
biggest. I will spell it to you, T--R--Y. Nobody knows what he can do
till he gives that word a fair trial. It was far more impossible to scale
the rock of Gibraltar; but our infantry did it; and there we are, with
all Europe grinding their teeth at us. What's a woman compared with
Gibraltar? However, as you seem to be a bit of a muff, I'll stand
sentinel whilst you cut him out."

The Colonel then retired into a sort of ambuscade--at least he mingled
with a small clump of three Scotch firs, and stood amongst them so