"Well, boy, how fares the wooing? Do you come back with a heart too big for your waistcoat to hold it, or has the jade proved fickle and sent you about your business? Come, I'm an old woman--perhaps an old fool--but I'm tingling to know if she has used you well, and if you're happy." He crossed to her and stooped, and put an arm about her shoulders and kissed her. "Yes, dear," he said, with a little laugh; "I'm so happy that I can't express what I feel." She put her hand up and softly stroked the hand that lay on her shoulder. "That's well, boy; that's well," she said. "And what did she say to you, and what did you say to her?" "Lots of things that I can't remember--lots of beautiful things that I didn't think any one could ever say to me," he replied. "Well, don't tell me; you've evidently got it pretty badly. I've never seen this girl, and know nothing about her; but I'm quite sure that she's all that's good and sweet and true, or you wouldn't have selected her from all other women. Just a word or two to you, my boy, although I don't think you need it; but I'm a woman myself, and women are strange creatures to deal with. Don't forget that a girl is a thing of moods and whims and fancies--quite the best of them are that--and they've got to be humoured, just like spoilt children. The world has banded itself together for centuries past to spoil its womenkind--sometimes in the best sense, generally in the worst--and you can't blame the women if they've learned to take advantage of it. I think a woman wants to feel that a man is her master, but she wants him to be a gentle master, all the same. And there is no woman living will love a man, in the best and finest way that a man can be loved, unless she is first his friend and his comrade--unless, unerringly, in time of doubt or trouble, her thoughts fly to him. There! I've done preaching. Now tell me what you're going to do, or what's going to happen, or what you've determined on." "Oh, I don't think we've determined on anything yet," said Comethup. "You see, it seems only just to have happened. I've only just found out, as it were, that she loves me." "She'd be a fool if she didn't," ejaculated Miss Carlaw. "Well, I'm not going to interfere in your love-making. In your own good time I must make the girl's acquaintance. In this, as in everything else, I leave all to your own good judgment and common sense. Make your own plans, and I'll back you up; I can't say more than that. But remember that if at any time you want her to come to London or to see me, this house is open to her, and she may stay under my wing as long as she likes. Selfishly, I'm glad to hear she has no friends. Relatives are a nuisance--at least, mine have always been. But you know I don't include you in that, don't you?"