"Now, look here, Jockie, I am going to speak seriously to you. You must not talk so wildly. Sometimes it is best not to put our feelings into words, and you are old enough to understand this. If Mrs. Norman becomes engaged to my uncle, you and I will be told in due time. It is mere conjecture now. And if the engagement is announced, I shall trust to your discretion not to go stamping all over the village saying you are so sorry for me. If my uncle is happy, I shall be glad for his sake; and you may be sure that neither now, nor at any other time, would I wish to say anything that might hurt his feelings or estrange him from us. You see, I am talking to you quite confidentially. If this thing happens, for my sake keep quiet, and don't make a moan about it. And if—" here Sidney spoke with some hesitation—"if it may not turn out as happily as we could wish, it is perhaps better that an old life should suffer than a young one. So do not reproach yourself too much. Do you understand?" "I understand that I'm a beast, and you're an angel!" exclaimed Jockie fervently. "And I'll shut my lips and never say a word more on the subject." Sidney smiled, but her heart failed her at the prospect that lay before her. She chatted to Jockie on different village matters, and sent her home to the Rectory quite happy. Then she went to her father. She found her uncle smoking a pipe with him in the study, and such an occurrence in the afternoon meant that something of importance was under consideration. Her father looked up at her with a little relief in his eyes. "Come along, little woman," he said cheerfully. "Give your Uncle Ted your good wishes. You can guess the news." Sidney's face blanched. It had come quicker than she expected. Then she pulled herself together with an effort. "Are you really going to marry Mrs. Norman?" she said with a smile, turning to her uncle. Major Urquhart looked her steadily in the eyes. "Yes," he said, with a mixture of shyness and defiance in his tone. "Don't you think she's very good to take such an old crock as I am?" Sidney bent and kissed his forehead. "I think she is fortunate in getting such an awfully nice man to take care of her." The Admiral laughed. "Women congratulate women, Ted. Men congratulate men." "Ah, well," said the Major, drawing in a long whiff of his pipe, "I know I'm not a catch in any way. I'm not one of those fools that don't know their own value. I must thank you both for taking my news so well. We've lived together these many years very happily, and I shan't wish for any changes. There's room enough for us all in the old house, eh?" Just for a second Sidney's eyes sought her father's anxiously, then she said gently: "I don't expect we shall wish for any change, Uncle Ted." "Will you write her a little friendly note, Sid? I am dining with her this evening. I thought perhaps you'd ask her up to dinner to-morrow night?" "Yes; most certainly," said the Admiral, and Sidney added her assent.