We were in Eaton Square by this time, after coming along the King’s Road. My chief seemed to know where he was going, but he did not tell me till we had gone round the back of the Palace and come out in Piccadilly. When we crossed the road my heart began to beat quicker. The dear old man had made up his mind to pull me through, and I suspect he did it as much for Violet’s sake as mine. He must have seen that there was some obstacle between us, but he never asked what it was. He only gave me one hint before we reached the house. “No man ever won a woman yet by making the worst of himself, Cassilis. If you haven’t anything else to be proud of, be proud of being loved and show it.” The Earl, whom we found at home, was more than half prepared to listen to us. He had changed for the better, too, since he had taken Sir Frank’s advice. He showed that he felt he owed a debt to him and another to his daughter, and was not unwilling to discharge both. It was my advocate who did most of the talking. He surprised and delighted me by telling my prospective father-in-law that I needn’t throw up my post under him just yet. “Not till he is on his feet comfortably,” he put it. In the end the Earl said, “Well, I will see what my daughter has to say, Dr. Cassilis.” And he rang the bell. When Violet came in she saw why she had been sent for, before her father spoke. She had her answer ready when he put the question. “This young gentleman has come here to ask me for your hand, Violet. What am I to say to him?” “He hasn’t asked me yet,” she whispered. My dear chief sprang to his feet. “I think we had better leave these young people together, my lord.” We are together still. THE END _The greatest pleasure in life is that of reading. Why not then own the books of great novelists when the price is so small_ ¶ _Of all the amusements which can possibly be imagined for a hard-working man, after his daily toil, or, in its intervals, there is nothing like reading an entertaining book. It calls for no bodily exertion. It transports him into a livelier, and gayer, and more diversified and interesting scene, and while he enjoys himself there he may forget the evils of the present moment. Nay, it accompanies him to his next day’s work, and gives him something to think of besides the mere mechanical drudgery of his every-day occupation--something he can enjoy while absent, and look forward with pleasure to return to._ _Ask your dealer for a list of the titles in Burt’s Popular Priced Fiction_ _In buying the books bearing the A. L. Burt Company imprint you are assured of wholesome, entertaining and instructive reading_ _THE BEST OF RECENT FICTION_