"Give her away? _Jill_, you mean?" she stared at him, obviously amazed. "What are you talking about, young man? You're not going to marry her _to-morrow_?" "No," he amended, "to-morrow week." He laughed at her startled exclamation, and went on, still holding her hand--unconsciously abandoned to him--with subtle persuasion in his voice. "I don't want you--exactly--to 'give her away.' In any sense!----" he laughed again--"but you simply _must_ come to the wedding. We've both of us set our hearts on that." "I never heard such utter nonsense in all my life!" she protested stoutly--"and don't imagine I shall allow it!" But, as she looked at his resolute face, inwardly she commended his spirit. "Of all the ridiculous notions..." she fumed; but McTaggart guessed she was wavering. "Tell me, first, you're pleased about it? _Do_ say you think I'll make Jill happy?" "Well----" she paused--"I'll admit you'll _try_! She's a bit of a handful--that young woman." Her grey eyes began to twinkle. Jill, she thought, had found her master. "Yes--I'm glad. Though I shan't hear..." He checked the protest audaciously. Before she could gather his intention he had stooped and kissed her faded cheek. "Thank you, Aunt Elizabeth. On Tuesday week I'll take another--In the vestry!" He chuckled gaily. "Well--I never...!" Miss Uniacke gasped. For once her sharp tongue was silenced. Her face was flushed and, helplessly, she straightened the crooked brown fringe. "Now----" McTaggart sat down, uninvited, by her side ... "I think we ought to talk business and fix up a few plans. I've got the license--that's all right. And to-night I'm going down to Oxton. The Bishop is my friend, you know, and I want him to come and marry us. Mrs. Uniacke's honeymoon--I mean Mrs. Somerfield----" her sister-in-law winced slightly and he went on hurriedly--"Well, she doesn't get back to Worthing till Wednesday. So, if you could manage to run down and stay with Jill until we're married ... You see my idea?" his face went red--"It would stop any silly talk, you know. But, perhaps, you could come to the lawyers first and fix up the settlements? I want to make that all square; for Jill's sake, you understand?" Miss Uniacke caught him up sharply. "I hope you're not under the delusion that my niece has anything of her own?" Purposely she withheld from him the knowledge of the modest sum left the girl by her Father. "My dear Aunt Elizabeth!" McTaggart looked taken aback. "I meant _my_ money, of course. I'd better tell you all about it." He proceeded forthwith to enlighten her on the subject of his inheritance. Miss Uniacke's gray eyes slowly widened with amazement. "You mean to say," she said at last, "that Jill will be a marchioness?"