"Fanny!" cried Leavesley, as he stood before her in the drawing-room of "The Laurels" (she had just entered the room, having returned from posting her letter). "Think--I've got two thousand pounds this morning!" "Mercy!" cried Miss Lambert. "Where did you get it from?" "Uncle." "Mr Hancock?" "Yes; he was going to have left me it in his will, but he's given me it instead." "How good of him!" said Fanny. She was about to say something else, but she stopped. "That's my good news," continued Leavesley. "What's yours?" "Mine? Oh--just think! Father's engaged to be married." "To be married?" "Yes, to a Miss Pursehouse; she's _awfully_ rich." He did not for a moment grasp the importance of this piece of intelligence. Then it broke on him. Now that Fanny's father was provided for, she would be free to marry any one she liked. * * * * * "I was nearly heart-broken," mumbled Leavesley into Fanny's hair--they were seated on the couch--"when you didn't reply." "The letter was on the kitchen dresser all the time," replied Fanny in a happy and dreamy voice, "behind a plate." "And then when old Verneede called, and you seemed so indifferent--at least, he said you did." "Who said I did?" "Verneede; when he called here that day." "He never called here." "_Verneede_ never called here?" "Never in his life." "He said he did, and he saw you, and told you I was going to Australia, and you didn't care." "Oh, what a horrid, wicked story! He never came here." "He must have been dreaming then," said Leavesley, who began to see how matters stood as regards the veracity of Verneede. "No matter, I don't care now. Hold me tighter, Fanny." * * * * * Till some one discovers the art of printing kisses, asterisks must serve. "But," said Leavesley after an interval of sweet silence, "what I can't make out is how Bridgewater found out about you and me." "Bridgewater!" "Yes; he told my aunt all about us, and our going to Epping Forest: only the old fool said we went to the Zoo." Fanny was silent. Then she said in a perplexed voice: "I want to tell you something. I did go to the Zoo." "When?" "The other day." "Who with?" "Guess!" "Not--not Bevan?" "No," said Fanny, "with your uncle." Leavesley laughed. "What a joke! Are you really in earnest?" "Yes; he wrote to ask if I'd like to go, and I went. We met Mr Bridgewater." "Oh, that accounts for it; he's mixed me and uncle up together--he must be going mad. Every one seems a little mad lately, uncle especially--taking you to the Zoo, and giving me two thousand, and--and--no matter, kiss me again." * * * * * * "Now," said Fanny, suddenly jumping up, "I must see after the house. Father wired this morning that he was bringing Miss Pursehouse here to-day to see the place, and I must get it tidy. Who's there?"