hat signify?" said Gertrude.
"If you say nothing to her about it, I'll be bound she'll say nothing
to you." And so it was on the day of the wedding. Ayala did not say
a word to Captain Batsby, nor did Captain Batsby say very much to
Ayala.

On the day before his marriage Captain Batsby paid a fourth visit to
Lombard Street in obedience to directions from Sir Thomas. "There,
my boy," said he, "though you and Gertrude did take a little journey
on the sly to a place which we will not mention, you shan't take her
altogether empty-handed." Then he explained certain arrangements
which he had made for endowing Gertrude with an allowance, which
under the circumstance the bridegroom could not but feel to be
liberal. It must be added, that, considering the shortness of time
allowed for getting them together, the amount of wedding presents
bestowed was considered by Gertrude to be satisfactory. As Lucy's
were exhibited at the same time the show was not altogether mean.
"No doubt I had twice as much as the two put together," said Mrs.
Traffick to Ayala up in her bedroom, "but then of course Lord
Boardotrade's rank would make people give."

CHAPTER LXIII.

AYALA AGAIN IN LONDON.

After that last walk in Gobblegoose Wood, after Lady Tringle's
unnecessary journey to Stalham on the Friday, and the last
day's hunting with Sir Harry's hounds,--which took place on the
Saturday,--Ayala again became anxious to go home. Her anxiety was in
its nature very different from that which had prompted her to leave
Stalham on an appointed day lest she should seem to be waiting for
the coming of Colonel Stubbs. "No; I don't want to run away from him
any more," she said to Lady Albury. "I want to be with him always,
and I hope he won't run away from me. But I've got to be somewhere
where I can think about it all for a little time."

"Can't you think about it here?"

"No;--one can never think about a thing where it has all taken place.
I must be up in my own little room in Kingsbury Crescent, and must
have Aunt Margaret's work around me,--so that I may realise what
is going to come. Not but what I mean to do a great deal of work
always."

"Mend his stockings?"

"Yes,--if he wears stockings. I know he doesn't. He always wears
socks. He told me so. Whatever he has, I'll mend,--or make if he
wants me.

'I can bake and I can brew,
And I can make an Irish stew;--
Wash a shirt, and iron it too.'"

Then, as she sang her littl