doing so he would seem to abandon his own claim. Hope he
knew there was none; but yet, even yet, he regarded himself as one of
Ayala's suitors. "Do you think it well," continued the father, "that
you should remain in London while such paragraphs as these are being
written about you?"

"I am not in London now," said Tom.

"No, you are not in London while you are at Merle Park,--of course.
And you will not go up to London without my leave. Do you understand
that?" Here Tom again was silent. "If you do," continued his father,
"you shall not be received down here again, nor at Queen's Gate, nor
will the cheques for your allowance be honoured any longer at the
bank. In fact if you do not obey me I will throw you off altogether.
This absurdity about your love has been carried on long enough." And
so it came to be understood in the family that Tom was to be kept in
mild durance at Merle Park till everything should have been arranged
for his extended tour about the world. To this Tom himself gave no
positive assent, but it was understood that when the time came he
would yield to his father's commands.

It had thus come to pass that the affray at the door of the Haymarket
became known to so much of the world at large as interested itself
in the affairs either of Colonel Stubbs or of the Tringles. Other
paragraphs were written in which the two heroes of the evening were
designated as Colonel J---- S---- and as T---- T----, junior, of the
firm of T---- and T----, in the City. All who pleased could read
these initials, and thus the world was aware that our Colonel had
received a blow, and had resented the affront only by rescuing his
assailant from the hands of the police. A word was said at first
which seemed to imply that the Colonel had not exhibited all the
spirit which might have been expected from him. Having been struck
should he not have thrashed the man who struck him;--or at any rate
have left the ruffian in the hands of the policemen for proper
punishment? But many days had not passed over before the Colonel's
conduct had been viewed in a different light, and men and women
were declaring that he had done a manly and a gallant thing. The
affair had in this way become sufficiently well known to justify
the allusion made to it in the following letter from Lady Albury to
Ayala;--

Stalham, Tuesday, 11th February, 18--.

MY DEAR AYALA,

It is quite indispensable for the happiness of everybody,
particul