Jean Goring and Robert Gloucester were married in the early days of October, after a bare three months' engagement. They themselves found the period one of ideal happiness, but, as is usually the case, it was somewhat trying to their relations and friends. Jean, in her gay young beauty, had filled the centre of the stage for many friends, who were bound to suffer when the light shone no more upon them, and Jean had neither eyes, ears, nor heart for any one but her _fiance_. Mr Goring gave his consent to the engagement with a readiness which was largely based upon the affection which his prospective son-in-law had already awakened. "He's a splendid fellow--a man in a thousand. Thank Heaven you've chosen a man who won't bore me to death hanging about the house. It's a poor match in a worldly sense, but that's your affair. You had chances of rich men before now, and wouldn't look at them. I believe in letting people live their own lives, in their own way. I'll give you a good trousseau, and allow you two hundred a year; but I can't do more. There's the boys' education coming on." "Oh, thank you, father. That's sweet of you. I never expected so much. We shall be poor, of course, but I shan't mind. It will be rather fun living in a small house and playing at housekeeping. I never cared much for money." Mr Goring grimaced expressively. Jean had not cared for money, simply because she had never realised its value. Every want had been supplied, and there had been a comfortable certainty of a lenient parent in the background when her own generous allowance ran short. Graceless mortals never realise the value of the blessings which are theirs in abundance. Jean had enjoyed easy means and perfect health all her life, and took them as much for granted as light and air. "Hadn't you better take some cooking lessons, or something?" asked her father uneasily. It crossed his mind at that moment that he had not done his duty by the man whom Jean was about to marry, in allowing his girl to grow up in absolute ignorance of her work in the world. "Gloucester doesn't strike me as a man likely to make money, and you ought to be trained. Talk to Miggles. Ask her. She has about as good an idea of running a house as any woman I know. It's a good thing you are going to live within reach of home. I'm thankful Gloucester thinks of settling in town." "Yes, oh, yes! Of course, if they gave him a really good offer for India--I should rather like to live in India!"