"She is staying with her brother Frank. I and Matilda called at Ham Court just now and brought her with us." "Did you bring him also?" "I did not see him; they said he was not in the way. But now why do I mention this?" "As a bit of gossip for me, I suppose. It's very good of you. My coat and dinner can certainly wait." "I have brought Miss Dallory here for your sake, Arthur Bohun," was the rejoinder, spoken with emphatic meaning. "_She_ is the young lady you will do well to think of as your future wife." Madam went out of the room with much stately rustle, and swept downstairs. Another minute, and the door opened again to admit Richard North. Captain Bohun had not progressed further in dressing, or stirred from his place, but was leaning against the window-frame, whistling softly. "Madam's in a way, is she not?" began Richard, in low tones. "My window was open, Arthur, and I was obliged to catch a word here and there. I made all kinds of noises, but you did not take the hint." "_She_ didn't; and I would as soon you heard as not," was Captain Bohun's answer. "You are ready, I see, Dick." "The course of true love never did run smooth, you know," said Richard, laughing. "And never will. Whenever I read of the old patriarchal days, in which a man had only to fix on a wife and bring her home to his tent; and look on all that has to be considered in these--money, suitability of family, settlements--I wonder whether it can be the same world. Madam need not fear that I have any chance of marrying." "Or you wouldn't long be a bachelor?" "I don't know about that." "You don't know! Why, you do know, and so do I. I've seen how it is for some weeks now, Arthur." "Seen what?" Richard smiled. "Seen what?" "How it is between you and Ellen Adair." "You think you have?" "Think! You love her, don't you?" Arthur Bohun put down the hair-brush gently, and moved to take up his coat. "Dick, old fellow, whether it will come to anything between us or not, I cannot tell," he said, his voice strangely deep, his brow flushing with emotion, "but I shall never care for any one else as I care for her." "Then secure her," answered Dick. "I might be tempted to do it, in spite of my mother, had I the wherewithal to set up a home; but I haven't." "You have more than double what Rane and Bessy have." "Rane and Bessy! But Bessy is one in a thousand. I couldn't ask a wife to come home to me on that." "Just as you think well, of course. Take care, though, you don't get her snapped up. I should fear it, if it were my case. Ellen Adair is the loveliest girl I ever saw, and I think her the sweetest, I could only look at her as we sat in Mrs. Cumberland's room this morning. Other men will be finding it out, Arthur, if they have not already done so." Arthur never answered. He had gone back to his former post, and was leaning against the window-frame, looking out dreamily. "Madam objects, I presume?"