Parkington nodded. "But she is poor--and, I think, has a little too much morals to get on at Court." "She will not let her face and figure purchase her place, you mean? I see.--You have decided to go home?" he asked suddenly. "I am strongly tempted, Brandon, strongly tempted." "And do you want to be sure of the old Earl's forgiveness?" "I should not refuse it," said Parkington, smiling. "Then, marry Miss Stirling--she can wheedle him, I warrant; and, besides, he will be forced to admit that you have given some evidence of reform by doing it." "And Miss Stirling, shall I carry her off by force and marry her, or simply drug her!" laughed Parkington. "Neither--tell her the truth. I will be much surprised, if she does not jump at the chance to get the son of the Earl of Doncaster, even though he is not the heir. Moreover, man, she is fond of you; one did not need to do more than see her at table, this evening, to appreciate it." "You are fertile of schemes," was the answer. "I am--and they are usually good schemes; it is an indispensable requisite of the pirate business." Parkington drew over the port, and replenished his glass. "But it risks everything on the Earl," he objected. "If he refuse to be lenient--if he prosecutes?" "He will not." "I must think over it--and, then, marriage is a serious question, my friend, a serious question!" "Is it any more serious to marry Miss Stirling, than it is to marry Miss Marbury?" asked Brandon. "Well, in the one case, my mind was made up." "How about the lady's mind?" "I admit I do not know." "Was it she in blue and pink, at the other end of the table?" "The same--she sat next to Constable." Brandon laughed lightly, "I am a stranger, here," he said, "but there is only one, in this company, who has any attraction for her:--the tall, grave, exceedingly good-looking man of middle age across the table. Maynadier, I think the Governor called him." "He is only a friend of the family--the best friend, likely--nothing more." "I am not answering as to him," said Brandon. "You are not thinking of marrying Mr. Maynadier, I take it." He pushed back his chair with the others, and arose. "Consider it--sound Miss Stirling--see if she be likely to accept. At any rate, I tell you, again, Miss Marbury is not for you--and neither is residence in Maryland." "Very good--I shall sound her, and tell you how it appears. I have an appointment with her, now," said Parkington. On the way out, Miss Marbury hailed him. "Come here!" she said, with pretty peremptoriness. "Come here, and tell me how you are--I have not seen you for a long, long time." "And my days have been dreary as winter in consequence, full of rain and melancholy," replied Parkington. "Then, cheer up, Sir Mournful--the sun is shining; you may bask in its rays a while." He offered her his arm. "To the Bay and back again?" he asked. "Why, back again?" she laughed.