"Two or three letters to write!" muttered the young man, as he went out into the veranda, to light his pipe, and keep on the watch for the coveted opportunity; "haven't you any brains in your head?" But James Wilton's half-hour proved to be an hour, and when, after seeing him off, the son returned to the hall, he heard voices in the drawing-room, and gave a vicious snarl. "Why the devil don't she go?" he muttered. There were steps the next moment, and he drew back into the dining-room to listen, the conversation telling him that his mother and cousin were going into the library to get some particular book. There, to the young man's great disgust, they stayed, and he waited for quite half an hour trying to control his temper, and devise some plan for trying to get his mother away. At last she appeared, saying loudly as she looked back, "I shall be back directly, my dear," and closed the door. Claud appeared at once, and with a meaning smile at his mother, she crossed to the stairs, while as she ascended to her room the son went straight to the library and entered. As he threw open the door he found himself face to face with his cousin, who, book in hand, was coming out of the room. "Hallo!" he cried, with a peculiar laugh; "Where's the old lady?" "She has just gone to her room, Claud," said Kate, quietly. "Here, don't be in such a hurry, little one," he cried, pushing to the door. "What's the matter?" "Nothing," she said, quietly, though her heart was throbbing heavily; "I was going to take my book into the drawing-room." "Oh, bother the old books!" he cried, snatching hers away, and catching her by the wrist; "come and sit down; I want to talk to you." "You can talk to me in the drawing-room," she said, trying hard to be firm. "No, I can't; it's better here. I say, Kitty, when shall it be?" "When shall what be?" "Our wedding. You know." "Never," she said, gravely, fixing her eyes upon his. "What?" he cried. "What nonsense! You know how I love you. I do, 'pon my soul. I never saw anyone who took my fancy so before." "Do your mother and father know that you are talking to me in this mad way?--you, my own cousin?" she said, firmly. "What do I care whether they do or no?" he said, with a laugh; "I've been weaned for a long time. I say, don't hold me off; don't play with a fellow like silly girls do. I love you ever so, and I'm always thinking about your beautiful eyes till I can't sleep of a night. It's quite right for you to hold me off for a bit, but there's been enough of it, and I know you like me." "I have tried to like you as my cousin," she said, gravely.