"Called me her dear boy, and said her sole wish was to see her child happy." "Gammon!" said Viscount Diphoos. "She's kidding you." "Nonsense! What a miserable sceptic you are!" "Yes; I know my dear mamma." "I merely quote her words," said Melton, coldly. "Then the old girl's going off her chump," said Tom. "But there, never mind; so much the better. Charley, old man, I give you my consent." "Thank you," said Melton, smiling. "Ah, you may laugh, but 'pon my soul I should like you to marry Maudey. She's the dearest and best girl in the world, and I was afraid the old girl meant Wilters to have her. Well, I am glad, old man. Give us your fist. I'm sure Maudey likes you, so go in and win. Make your hay while the sun shines, my boy. Only stow all that now. It's croquet, so get a mallet. You and Maudey are partners, against Tryphie Wilder and me." He shook hands warmly with his friend, and they went down the path together. "I say, old man, Wilters is coming down to-day. He's been in a fine taking. Saw him in London. Day before yesterday. Said he'd lost his diamond locket. Just as if it mattered to him with all his thousands. But he's as mean as mean. I should like to get him in a line at billiards, and win a lot of money off him. I will, too, some day. Now girls! Ready?" They were crossing the closely shaven lawn now to where Maude, looking very sweet and innocent, stood talking to Tryphie Wilder, and she coloured with pleasure as the young men advanced. Soon after the match began, and for ten minutes the two couples played vigorously and well. Then the game languished, and the various players missed their turns, and were soon in a terrible tangle, forgetting their hoops, so that at last, Tom, who was standing under a hawthorn that was one blush of pink, was heard by a knowing old thrush, sitting closely over four blue speckled eggs, to whisper in a low tone-- "Don't be hard on a fellow, Tryphie dear, when you know how fond he is of you." The thrush laughed thrushly, and blinked her eyes as she recalled the troubles of matrimony: how long eggs were hatching, and what a deal of trouble the little ones were to feed when the weather was dry and worms were scarce. Just at the same time too Charley Melton and Maude had come to a stand-still where a great laburnum poured down a shower of rich golden drops, through which rained the rays of the sun, broken up into silvery arrows of light which forced themselves through the girl's fair hair, as she stood trembling and palpitating that happy June day, while Charley Melton's words grew deeper and more thrilling in their meaning. For their theme was love, one that has never seemed tiring to young and willing ears, though it must be owned that folks do talk, have talked, and always will talk a great deal of nonsense.