"He does think we're rich, doesn't he, Philia? Dear Geoff, to speak frankly, I can't afford it." He put his hand on her arm. "Darling, surely you will let me see to that for you?" She shook her head with unhesitating decision. "I couldn't possibly let you ever give me money." At length Philia saw an opening, and no alert lawyer could have darted at it more promptly. "Until 'e is yer 'usband, yer mean. Then he'll 'ave a right to, won't 'e?" "Of course, everything will be different then," she assented, with a swift, shy glance at her lover. "But, you dear little silly," he rejoined tenderly, "it's only a question of two or three weeks at the very outside. What real difference can it possibly make?" "It does--I feel it does. Please don't press the point. Now, Geoff, remember I'm always right. You owned that yesterday evening." "Yes, and what did I tell you? Have you forgotten? That you would have to marry me all the sooner on account of this terrible correctness. Now, then, how much sooner does this fresh example bring it?" Here Mrs. Harbert chipped in again, desperately seizing the bull by the horns. "It's a real pity yer 'aven't bin engaged a week or two longer, both of yer. Then I'd say, git married at once--to-morrow--to-day, and let Evarne 'ave a 'usband to look after 'er 'enceforward." Geoff's eyes brightened. "I say----" he was commencing, but Evarne interrupted in tones of obvious annoyance. "You ought not to say things like that, Philia. It's very inconsiderate." But the culprit was in no ways disconcerted. "Lor, she's a regular babby," she declared laughing. "The very idea o' really gettin' spliced makes 'er that bashful." And sure enough the colour on Evarne's cheeks had perceptibly deepened. "Jist look if she ain't gorn as red as a radish," continued Mrs. Harbert. "And all along o' the idea of a weddin'!" "It's not that," declared Evarne with energy; "it was your silly suggestion of getting married at once--without any delay--that vexed me. You oughtn't to say things of that sort. You're excited about this Scotch tour, you stupid old Philia. As if people ever rushed off and got married at twenty-four hours' notice! And for no better reason than that I run the risk of feeling lonely and unhappy in an empty house. Bless the darling, she shan't have any of the hardships of life--no, she shan't! You've got no right to mortify me so; it's horrid of you, I'm really vexed with you." She moved away, and sat down with her back to Philia, tapping the floor angrily with the tip of her pretty pink shoe. The old woman shrugged her shoulders and appealed to Geoff in decidedly nettled tones.