ore than half-a-dozen pair of
stockings with me."

"He can't but say now that we have done as he would have us," added
the Captain. "I do suppose that he will not be so unnatural as not to
give something when Augusta had L200,000."

"Indeed, she had not. But you'll see that sooner or later papa will
do for me quite as well as for Augusta." In this way they were happy
together, consoling each other for any little trouble which seemed
for a while to cloud their joys, and basking in the full sunshine of
their permitted engagement.

The day was soon fixed, but fixed not entirely in reference to the
wants of Gertrude and her wedding. Lucy had also to be married
from the same house, and the day for her marriage had already been
arranged. Sir Thomas had ordered that everything should be done for
Lucy as though she were a daughter of the house, and her wedding had
been arranged for the last week in May. When he heard that Ayala and
Colonel Stubbs were also engaged he was anxious that the two sisters
should be "buckled," as he called it, on the same occasion,--and he
magnanimously offered to take upon himself the entire expense of the
double arrangement, intimating that the people in Kingsbury Crescent
had hardly room enough for a wedding. But Ayala, acting probably
under Stalham influences, would not consent to this. Lady Albury, who
was now in London, was determined that Ayala's marriage should take
place from her own house; and, as Aunt Margaret and Uncle Reginald
had consented, that matter was considered as settled. But Sir Thomas,
having fixed his mind upon a double wedding, resolved that Gertrude
and Lucy should be the joint brides. Gertrude, who still suffered
perhaps a little in public estimation from the Ostend journey, was
glad enough to wipe out that stain as quickly as possible, and did
not therefore object to the arrangement. But to the Captain there was
something in it by which his more delicate feelings were revolted.
It was a matter of course that Ayala should be present at her
sister's wedding, and would naturally appear there in the guise
of a bridesmaid. She would also, now, act as a bridesmaid to
Gertrude,--her future position as Mrs. Colonel Stubbs giving her, as
was supposed, sufficient dignity for that honourable employment. But
Captain Batsby, not so very long ago, had appeared among the suitors
for Ayala's hand; and therefore, as he said to Gertrude, he felt a
little shamefaced about it. "What does t