"I agree to that--it amounts to the same thing." "Do you approve of the arrangement, father?" "Trust a woman to find some way out," said the colonel. "I think the arrangement a good one. Honour satisfied on both sides." "Now, Ted, I can thank you properly--especially for your thought on first seeing the necklet. But come and see the rest of the 'loot', as your unprincipled and shameless brother calls it." "He calls it that, does he? Good judge, Jim." "Yes, his first daily enquiry is, 'Any more loot to-day?' After being satisfied on that point he condescends to enquire after me." "I shouldn't have thought he was ever 'satisfied on that point'." Ethel Woodburn laughed merrily. "Quite true, he's not. He invariably grunts, 'Is that all to-day?' and tells me that I ought to have laid myself out to be particularly nice to everyone for the past fortnight." "Greedy brute, isn't he? But I say, Ethel, isn't he content with these? I call it a jolly good show considering that the presents from England haven't come yet. I s'pose it's just Jim's peculiar way of expressing his gratitude." "Have you shown him the necklet?" "No fear; he'd have collared it and stuck to it, and pawned it before you could see it. He wouldn't have had your scruples." "I'm afraid that you have a very poor opinion of my husband that-is-to-be, Lieutenant Russell." Ted laughed, and most rudely winked. "About as bad as your own, I guess, Mrs. Major Russell." Ted walked round from table to table reading the cards and asking who was who. "Sir Arthur Fletcher," he read out, halting before one of the presents. "That's jolly nice of him!" "I see Charlie Dorricot's sent nothing yet?" he added. "He's due to-night, isn't he?" "Yes, I expect to make his acquaintance shortly." "Ripping good chap, Charlie! You'll like him. "He's very anxious to inspect you," the young subaltern continued. "He did all he could to draw Jim out about you, but it was no go--Jim just gazed amiably upon him. Then he drew a fancy picture of you." "Who did? Jim?" "Don't jeer! You know who I mean. He also offered bribes to read your letters--precious small bribes, though! But nothing could make Jim wrathy when he was reading the epistles of Ethel." "You helped him, I suppose?" "Helped Jim--to read them? Who's mixed with the personal pronouns now?" "From your account of your cousin," Ethel observed, disdaining to answer the gibes, "I think it very doubtful that I shall like him. He appears to have been--well--impertinent." "Regular impudent beggar he is! I knew you'd think so; that's why I told you. Never mind, Ethel, you may be sure of this, that he'll like you. Besides, I stuck up for you, as Jim wouldn't." "I am indeed grateful, Lieutenant Russell." "You do look nice when you laugh, Ethel. Ah! here they are, I can hear Charlie's voice." They went down to greet the new-comers. "I seem to know you quite well already, Captain Dorricot," Ethel remarked as they were introduced.