hat the buds were coming on some of the
trees, and suggested that the broad road along by the Round Pond
would be drier than the little paths. It was not interesting, as
Gertrude felt; but she had not expected him to be interesting. The
interest she knew must be contributed by herself. "Ben," she said,
"I was so happy to hear what you said to mamma the other day."

"What did I say?"

"Why, of course, that, as papa has given his consent, our engagement
is to go on just as if--"

"Just as if what?"

"As if we had found the clergyman at Ostend."

"If we had done that we should have been married now," suggested
Batsby.

"Exactly. And it's almost as good as being married;--isn't it?"

"I suppose it comes to the same thing."

"Hadn't you better go to papa again and have it all finished?"

"He makes himself so very unpleasant."

"That's only because he wants to punish us for running away. I
suppose it was wrong. I shall never be sorry, because it made me know
how very, very much you loved me. Didn't it make you feel how very,
very dearly I loved you,--to trust myself all alone with you in that
way?"

"Oh, yes; of course."

"And papa can't bite you, you know. You go to him, and tell him that
you hope to be received in the house as my,--my future husband, you
know."

"Shall I say nothing else?"

"You mean about the day?"

"I was meaning about money."

"I don't think I would. He is very generous, but he does not like to
be asked. When Augusta was to be married he arranged all that himself
after they were engaged."

"But Traffick demanded a certain sum?" This question Captain Batsby
asked with considerable surprise, remembering what Mr. Traffick had
said to him in reference to Augusta's fortune.

"Not at all. Septimus knew nothing about it till after the
engagement. He was only too glad to get papa's consent. You mustn't
believe all that Septimus says, you know. You may be sure of
this,--that you can trust papa's generosity." Then, before he landed
her at the door in Queen's Gate, he had promised that he would make
another journey to Lombard Street, with the express purpose of
obtaining Sir Thomas's sanction to the marriage,--either with or
without money.

"How are you again?" said Sir Thomas, when the Captain was for the
third time shown into the little back parlour. "Have you had another
trip to the continent since I saw you?" Sir Thomas was in a good
humour. Tom had gone upon his travels; Mr. Traffic