"Well, I never thought I should find you looking forward contentedly to a life in India," said the major, after a long and animated talk, anent the _pros_ and _cons_ of Wilton's views; "you used to long for a stake in the 'old countrie.'" "Yes; but that was because Lord St. George put it into my head. Now, that is at an end." "Ah! just so--this infernal marriage! What do you intend to do with him, eh?" "I have not given it a thought--or, rather, scarcely a thought. I will marry first, and decide after. I tell you candidly, Moncrief, when first I made up my mind to risk everything, rather than part with Ella, I had a stupid, cowardly idea of a private marriage; but I soon gave that up; it was too deucedly ungentlemanlike; and then Ella would despise even a shadow of double-dealing! No; when we are married, and I have time, I will write to the old viscount, and--" "By George! this is too bad," cried the major, getting up and pacing the room in an agony. "Fortune, and fair prospects, and--and everything flung overboard, for the sake of a white-faced bit of a girl that you would forget in two months if you made the first stand. It's like giving up drink or cigars; the first week is the brunt of the battle!" "Don't talk blasphemy," returned Wilton, sternly; "nor waste time and breath." "Well, well!" resumed the rebuked major; "look here, do not be in too great a hurry to write to the old peer. I met St. George Wilton to-day; he told me Lord St. George was down at Brandestone, and very shaky; perhaps you had better not write to him till the honeymoon is over. O Lord! won't you be ready to cut your throat when you get his answer! But I trust he will die, and leave you the property in the meantime." "He will not do that," said Wilton, gravely. "But, tell me, what is St. George doing in town? I hate that fellow instinctively." "Oh, he was only passing through _en route_ to join some 'Lord knows who' at Cowes, to cruise somewhere in his yacht, and--Where are you going?" "Why, you will not take any more wine, and, as I have not seen Ella to-day, I thought I would just run down and bid her good-night. Come with me, old fellow, do! I'd take it as a real bit of good-fellowship; she would be so pleased. You may as well submit to the inevitable with a good grace." "Go with you to see this--ahem!--fascinating little witch? Not to get the step I've been waiting for these seven years." CHAPTER X. The extremely sudden and unorthodox character of Ella's nuptials was a source of irritation, not to say dismay, to the worthy Mrs. Kershaw. She took, upon the whole, a desponding and distrustful view of human nature; and, instead of meeting Ella's smiling, blushing account of Colonel Wilton's visit and her engagement to him, with effusive sympathy, she had nodded her head and knitted her brows, asked a dozen questions, and received the replies in ominous silence; at last spoke as follows: