"No; I said I would not," cried the major; "and I've kept to that, and that alone. I've given way in everything else. Let me alone there." "All right; all right. I say no more. Change the subject, Jem; we won't have words to-night. Glynne looks lovely; doesn't she?" "Fit bride for a god," said the major. "Bless her!" "Amen. Calm, satisfied and happy in her choice." "H'm." The major coughed a little. "She does, Jem," cried Sir John hastily. "Everybody said so to-night. I should have liked that little lassie, Lucy Alleyne, to have been asked to be a bridesmaid though; but after what has passed it was as well not." "Yes," said the major gruffly, "just as well not." "Pretty girl that Marjorie Emlin. Best looking bridesmaid we shall have." "Humph! yes. Can't say I like her, Jack." "Prejudiced? old man." "Perhaps so; but those white-faced red-haired girls always have a foxey look to me. There, there, I've done, and I'll play cavalier to her to-morrow if I get the chance." "That you will, Jem, I know. Trust you soldiers for that. Sad dogs. Why, Jem, old chap, I never said anything to you before," chuckled Sir John, "but 'pon my soul, I thought once you were going to make play and get married before Glynne." The major moved uneasily in his chair, and suppressed a sigh. "Nice little girl, Jem," continued Sir John. "I liked her myself; but only a woman. There were rumours about her. You didn't hear, I suppose?" "Yes, I did," said the major, biting hard at his cigar. "Well, no wonder. It was enough to make the best girl in the world a little wild. Shut up in that dreary house by herself, for you can't call it anything else." "Yes; dull life for a young girl," assented the major, "Never heard-- er--er--who it was?" "I? Wouldn't listen to the confounded scandal. Some damned chatter about her getting up at daylight to go and meet a man. Did you?" "Hah!" said the major, drawing a deep breath; "I wouldn't hear." "Right, Jem, right. By the way, I think we've got every one here who ought to come, and we'll make the day go off with a swing, old fellow. Is there any fellow I ought to have asked on Miss Emlin's account?" "No," said the major grimly; "you've got him for another purpose." "Eh? What do you mean?" "She wanted Rolph herself." "Impossible! Why, the girl's devotedly attached to Glynne, affectionate in the extreme. See what a beautiful diamond bracelet she has given her." "Yes, that kind of girl always is. It's a way they have of showing their spite." "Nonsense! Who told you that rubbish?" "The young lady's aunt--Rob's mother." "The deuce!" "But she was quite right. She said such an union was better avoided, and that her niece had long ago acquiesced in the wisdom of the arrangement. There, my cigar's nearly out, and I'm ready for bed." "Don't hurry. I was thinking again of how well Glynne looked when she said good-night." "Lovely," said the major, with a sigh.