"What was I to do?" said the young husband, appealingly. "I had been abroad, and tried to forget her, but it was of no use. I was forbidden the house, and at last I learned that this marriage was to come off. I dared not trust the servants, so I practised this ruse. But there, it's all over now. You forgive me, sir, do you not?" "Well, yes, my boy," said Lord Barmouth, who was sitting fondling his daughter's hand. "I think you are quite right. I should have done the same, for I was a devil of a--Don't fidget, Maude, my darling. I'll talk her ladyship round." "She'd rather it had been the organ-grinder," choked and coughed Viscount Diphoos, while his sister, blushing and happy, kept shaking her finger at his mirthful face. "But I will talk her round," said Lord Barmouth, rather pompously, to the infinite risk of sending his son once more off into convulsions. "But I say, Charley," cried Tom, who kept showing his delight by slapping his brother-in-law on the back; "I want to know one thing though; did the signore come that night to fetch Maude, and leave his organ in the area?" "No, of course not," cried Charley, eagerly; "I bought the organ, and came myself." "With the organ?" "For this time only on any stage." "As they say in the play-bills," cried Tom. "Hooray!" At that moment the door was tried, and then shaken by her ladyship, who had been waiting till the first part of the storm was over, after which she ascended with Tryphie, whose face wore a peculiarly mocking look as she stood behind her aunt. "Open this door," cried Lady Barmouth. A dead silence fell upon the group. "Oh, papa!" cried Maude. "Yes, my dear," said his lordship, looking round for a way of escape. "I--I--I think it is her ladyship." "Not much doubt about it," said Tom. "Now, Charley, old chap, take your header and get out of your misery." "Yes," said Charley, "I suppose I must get it over." "Open this door!" cried Lady Barmouth, shaking it furiously. "It isn't a hanging matter," said Tom, laughing. "No," said Charley, rather uneasily, "it isn't a hanging matter." "And her ladyship can't undo it." "No," said Charley firmly, as he crossed the room to where the door was being shaken violently, "her ladyship cannot undo it." "Would--would you like to take hold of my hand, Maudey, my dear?" said Lord Barmouth in a faltering voice. "Yes, papa, dear; and you will intercede for my dear husband," said the young wife, clinging to him affectionately. "I will, my dear, I will. I feel as brave as a lion now. I--I--oh, here she is." "What is the meaning of all this?" cried her ladyship, staring round at the scene, as Tryphie rushed at Maude, kissed her, and then at Charley Melton, and jumped up and kissed him. "I always fancied that's how it was," she whispered. "What's the meaning of it?" cried Tom. "Why, we've found them. Here, allow me to take round the hat for the coppers; or will you do it now, Maude?"