"What!" Basil scowled with a brow of thunder. "Does he dare to----" "He dares nothing," interposed Patricia hurriedly, and placed her pink palm over his mouth to prevent further speech. "But I am certain that he wants to marry me." "At his age. Ridiculous!" "Why ridiculous? Older men than the Squire have married." Basil's arm grew loose round her waist. "Do you admire him, then?" "Of course. I both admire him and love him. Look how good he has been to me. I hadn't a shilling when he took me from The Home of Art." "Patricia, do you mean to say----" She stopped him again, and this time his mouth was closed with a kiss. "I mean to say that you are a dear old stupid thing, darling. I can't help myself if your uncle admires me." "It shows his good taste. All the same----" "All the same, I'm going to marry you, my dear. But we'll both be turned out of the house, I'm sure of that." Basil hugged her again. "I knew you would never marry for money, dearest," he whispered. "And if we are turned out we can live on my pay. I have to join the Mediterranean Fleet when my leave is up in a couple of months from now. My ship will be always at Malta--always calling in there, you know. We'll get a tiny flat, and you shall stay there when we're married." "Oh, darling, that will be heaven!" "It will be poverty," said Basil ruefully; "not what you're used to." "My dear," she put her arm round his neck and looked into his hazel eyes, "what nonsense you talk. Since my father died I have been desperately hard up in every way, and if your uncle had not taken pity upon me, I really don't know what I should have done. I can cook and sew and look after a house splendidly. I'm just the wife for a hard-up sailor." "You are, indeed," said Basil fervently, and would have embraced her, but that a knock came at the door. "Oh, hang it! here's Sims." "I must attend to my duties," said Patricia, as Sims entered. "It's the butcher, of course. Go on, Sims. I'm coming to the kitchen." And Sims discreetly departed with a knowing smile, while Patricia remained for a last kiss. The Beckleigh Hall servants saw very plainly what was taking place, and even although they were old and jealous retainers, did not resent it. Basil was an immense favourite with one and all, while Patricia during the short time she had acted as housekeeper had captured all hearts with great ease.