"Ah, that's better," exclaimed the boy, whose face was now bright and beaming. "I do hate to see you in one of those sulky, ill-humoured fits of yours." "Yes, they are objectionable; but where are you going?" "Going? I was coming after you. I say, I've made it right." "Made what right?" "Why, _that_. I hung about till I saw the Dymcoxes' maid, a regular old griffin; and when I spoke to her she looked as if she would have snapped off my head. Couldn't make anything of her, but I've secured the footman." "Under military arrest?" "No, no, of course not. You know what I mean. I tipped him a sov., and the fellow seemed to think I had gone mad; then he thought I meant to have given him a shilling, and told me so. I don't believe he hardly knew what a sov. was, and he'd do anything for me now. He'll take letters, or messages, or anything; and he says that I was right." "What about?" "What about? Why, those two ancient patriarchs; and that he is sure the old women are going to make up a match and regularly sell the girls. Glen, old fellow, this must be stopped." "How?" "By proper advances first, and if diplomacy fails, by a dashing charge-- an elopement." "Humph!" ejaculated Marcus. "Should you inform Lady Millet, your mamma, before you took such a step?" "I should take the lady I had chosen for my wife straight home." "And a very good place, too," said Glen, who remained very thoughtful, saying little till they reached Lady Littletown's gates. "Are you going to call here?" "To be sure. Come with me?" replied Glen; and receiving an answer in the affirmative to the inquiry as to whether Lady Littletown was at home, they were shown in, to find to their great delight that her ladyship had been over to the Palace that afternoon, and had brought back Clotilde and Marie to dine with her and spend the evening. "It will help to form their minds, my dears," her ladyship had said to the Honourable Misses Dymcox; "and really, now that we have this project in hand, I feel towards them as if they were my own children." This was while the young ladies had gone up to dress and frighten Ruth by their exigencies and sharp ways, after which they had an airing in Lady Littletown's carriage, and, when the young officers were announced, were sipping their five o'clock tea. "Now, now, now," cried Lady Littletown in tones of playful menace, as she gave her fingers to the officers in turn, "I shall not allow this sort of thing. You soldiers are such dreadful men. You knew my poor children here had come over to cheer my solitude, and you mount your chargers and gallop over at once." "I can assure your ladyship that my visit was frankly intended to yourself, and that I was in utter ignorance of your having company; but of course I am the more delighted."