"And there you have it, sir!" I exclaimed. "Did you ever hear such futile answers?" "Often, and generally from the loveliest lips, Mr. Vereker--" "Pray, sir, call me Peregrine if you will: and, sir," said I, grasping his worn left sleeve, "I beg you to advise me in this matter, for you are so wise--" "Never heed him, old pal!" cried Diana, grasping his right sleeve. "Peregrine only thinks he ought to marry me because he bought me and folks talk and--" "Pardon me, dear child, but how and where may one purchase a goddess?" his lordship enquired. "You said 'bought', I think?" "Yes, he bought me for fourteen guineas, a florin, one groat and three pennies!" and in two breaths, or thereabouts, she had recounted the whole incident. "Admirable!" exclaimed his lordship, glancing from one to other of us with shining eyes. "Ridiculous! Magnificent!" "And that's the only reason he wants to marry me--" "There you are wrong, Diana, and most unjust!" said I indignantly. "You know my chief purpose in wedding you is to take you from this wandering life and shield you from all hardship and coarseness." "And what of love, Peregrine?" enquired his lordship, gently. At this I hesitated, glanced down at the gleaming buckles of my new shoes, glanced up at the blue serenity of heaven, and finally looked at Diana, to find her watching me beneath scowling brows. "And there you have it!" said she in disdainful mimicry, "he--he don't know!" The Ancient Person smiled and laid his small, white hand upon Diana's brown fingers. "But then, dear child with the wise, woman's eyes--you have seen and surely know." Now at this Diana glanced swiftly from him to me and then, to my amazement, flushed hotly and drooped her head. "Ah, yes," sighed his lordship, "I see you know, child, so what matter?" "Sir," said I, "what do you mean?" "Peregrine, I touch upon an abstract theme and therefore one better sensed than described, so I will not attempt it." Here, to my further surprise, Diana nestled closer to him and whispered something in his ear. "I believe," said the Ancient Person, after Diogenes had plodded some little distance, "I believe you are camping with Jessamy Todd?" "Yes, sir, but pray, how did you learn this?" "Well, I know the redoubtable Jessamy rather well." "We'm settled in the wood beyond Wyvelstoke Park," added Diana, "along by the stream." "I know it," nodded his lordship, "I have killed many a fine trout along that same stream. I shall do myself the pleasure of finding you one of these days, if I may?" "Pray do sir," said I eagerly, "you will find Jeremy Jarvis the most wonderful tinker in the world and one who writes poetry besides mending kettles and shoeing horses." "This has been a truly memorable occasion," said his lordship, "I feel myself honoured by your confidence, it has given me a new interest in my solitary life." "And why are you so solitary?" questioned Diana.