"I haven't said that I love you," said Tui, rising in feigned alarm, "I don't need you to say it. I can see it." Henceforth, for some time, conversation became superfluous, if not impossible. At length Jim came to the point. "My darling!" he implored, "say that you will marry me." "How can I? It's so sudden; you're so--so--so very demonstrative. No, no; I won't--I can't." "Oh, very well, Miss Ostergaard," cried Aldean, suddenly releasing her. "I'm a fool, and you're a hard-hearted coquette," and he turned his back to fold his arms and sulk. "Lord Aldean!" said Tui, faintly. There was no reply. "Lord Aldean," she repeated. Still no reply. Finally, in desperation, "Jim!" "Oh, Tui, Tui!" His arms were round her. "Will you--will you?" "I will," murmured Tui, with accents well-nigh liturgical. "Dearest!" Then there was a great silence, and what is perhaps best expressed by typographic constellations. * * * * * * There came a knock--a discreet knock, be it said--at the door; and, shortly following it, the footman--a concrete being indeed. His signal gave rise to a very elegant little man[oe]uvre, whereby the width of the hearthrug was speedily, if somewhat obtrusively, placed between these two. Under his breath Jim muttered, "Hang it!" "M'lord," said the Apollo in livery; "if you please, m'lord, there's a person below who wishes to see your lordship." "What sort of a person?" "A low sort of person, m'lord. His business is important, he says." "Hope nothing's wrong with Mallow, poor chap," mumbled Aldean, driving the footman out of the room. Then he went downstairs. In the hall he found a disreputable marionette, who, at the sight of him, at once commenced profusely to scrape and bow. This creature confessed to the name of Vraik, and addressed Lord Aldean in a husky whisper--presumably that the lordly footman should not hear. "Mr. Mallow told me to send a wire to his rooms, m'lord," said the man--"that is, when I saw the Major cove off. But bein' a bit late for a telegram, I thought I might as well trot round myself. Mr. Mallow wasn't in, and they told me you'd left a message for this place, m'lord." "Yes, I did. Well, what about the Major?" "He's off to the Continong, m'lord; cleared off by the nine hexpress from Victorier--took three boxes with 'im." "Went off to-night, did he?" mused Jim. "That is just what Mallow expected. He's a bit of a liar, that Major. Very well," he said to Vraik, "I will convey your message to Mr. Mallow." "What am I to do now, m'lord?" "Call and see Mr. Mallow to-morrow. He will give you your orders. You can go now, Vraik." "Foggy night, m'lord--fog will get into the throat som'ow." Aldean construed the remark correctly, and produced half-a-crown. The creature slipped it into his pocket, and sneaked out with the abasement he judged befitting to the occasion.