I took Frank to the window, and with all the brevity possible in such a narrative of adventures as ours, related what had befallen us. He listened with a running commentary of "By Jove!"--"You don't say so,"--"Is it possible?" and other such exclamations, constantly directing glances at Grace, who was now deep in talk with Mrs. Howe, and, as I might know by the expression in her face, excusing her conduct by explaining the motives of it. In fact, even as I talked I could catch such words as "Ma'mselle Championet,"--"the Roman Catholic Priest,"--"Lady Amelia Roscoe's bigotry,"--with one or two other expressions, all giving me to know in what direction their conversation tended. Mrs Howe's air was one of affection and sympathy, as though she had come to my darling with the resolution to love her and to help her. "She is very young, Herbert," said Frank in a low voice. "She is eighteen," I answered. "She is exquisitely beautiful. I cannot wonder at you even if I could have the heart to condemn you. But, is not that a wedding-ring on her finger?" "It is," I answered, looking at him. He looked hard at me in return and exclaimed, "A mere provision against public curiosity, I presume? For surely you are not married?" "I am not so sure of that," I answered; "but my story is not yet ended," and I then told him of the marriage service which had been performed by Captain Parsons on board the ship, _Carthusian_. "Tut!" cried he, with a decided churchman-like shake of the head when I had made an end, "that's no marriage, man." "I believe it is then," said I, "though, of course, until _you_ unite us we do not consider ourselves man and wife." "I should think not," he exclaimed with vehemence. "What! a plain master of a ship empowered to solemnise holy matrimony? Certainly not. No churchman would hear of such a thing." "Ay, but it's not for the Church, it's the affair of the law. If the law says it's all right the Church is bound to regard it as right." "Certainly _not_," he cried, and was proceeding, but I interrupted him by repeating that we had consented to be married by Captain Parsons in the forlorn hope that the contract might be binding. "But without banns?--without licence?--without the consent of the young lady's guardians? No! no!" he cried, "you are not married. But it is highly desirable," he added, with a look at Grace, "that you should get married without delay. And so what do you propose to do? "Well, time may be saved by your publishing the banns at once, Frank." "Yes, but you must first obtain the guardian's consent." "Oh, confound it!" I cried, "I did not know that. I believed the banns could be published whilst the consent was being worked for." He mused awhile, eyeing his wife and Grace, who continued deep in conversation, and then, after a considerable pause, exclaimed: "There is nothing to be done but this; we must revert to your original scheme; Miss Bellassys--" "Call her Grace," said I.