“Two o’clock they come, and give me till four to decide. Immediate possession, in course. I ’ad to take it or leave it by four o’clock. I never ’ad two such hours in all me life. One thing I said. I asked if the buyer was British, for I couldn’t ’ave sold to a foreigner, come wot might. ‘Yes,’ they says, ‘British.’ So I signed her away at this table wiv tears in me eyes. I s’pose we’ll ’ave free seats now an’ do the grand, but shan’t be never so ’appy as we’ve bin ’ere.” There was a long silence. “When am I to go, sir?” said Bagot. “I mentioned you,” said his master. “I didn’t forget. I said as I ’oped you’d stay with me and Mrs. ’Arp, but if you didn’t do that, maybe you’ld like to stay ’ere. I said you was a Groom in a million an’ did the work o’ five, an’ that wot you didn’t know about the place could be counted out. The fellow listened and took a note o’ your name, but ’e said that he ’ad no authority to promise to take you on. ’Owever, the purchaser’s comin’ this afternoon at free. You’ll show ’im round, in course, and it’s Lombard Street to a norange ’e’ll jump at the chance. Mrs. ’Arp and me’ll be out. There ain’t no call for us to stay, an’—an’ we’ld rather not. The deal’s to go through nex’ Monday at twelve o’clock.” There was nothing more to be said. Chancery had passed. * * * * * Five hours and a half had gone dragging by and Bagot was in the gallery, oiling an aged hinge, and wondering how to word his _communiqué_ to Spring. Suddenly the throb of a bell came to his vigilant ears. The can went into a locker, and the Groom of the Chambers descended into the hall. He tried his best to be calm, but his nerves were taut. A good deal depended upon this interview—their tiny home, their living, their . . . With his hand on the mighty latch, Willoughby moistened his lips. . . . Spring was standing alone on the broad flags, very smartly dressed, looking ridiculously girlish, and inspecting her thin gold ring with her head on one side. Behind her, in the hot sunshine, was gleaming the grey and silver of a magnificent _coupé_. Husband and wife regarded each other with beating hearts. Then— “Please may I see over the house?” said Spring. “It—it belongs to my husband.” Willoughby put a hand to his head. “F-four hundred and fifty thousand,” he stammered. “Then——” “Yes, dear,” said Spring, entering and closing the door. “We might’ve got it for less, but I didn’t want to take any risks. You see,” she added, setting her back against the oak, “in spite of all your protests, you took my advice. In fact, you married the first one that came along.” Willoughby tried to speak, but no words would come. Suddenly he began to tremble. In an instant, Spring’s arms were about him and her cheek against his. “Willoughby, my darling, my darling!” So she comforted him. Presently he picked her up as one picks up a baby child.