"No, no, of course not. There's a lot of passion and storm, and tempest and that sort of thing." "But only in books." "Oh, yes, in real life. I remember when I fell in love with Lady Mary Callaghan." "Were you really once in love, uncle?" cried Glynne with the first touch of animation that she had shown. "Of course I was--of course--once--but it didn't come to anything. Well, there was a lot of fire and fury over that." "Was there, uncle?" "Yes, to be sure. I felt as if I couldn't live without her, and she felt as if she couldn't live without me, and we were always writing letters to one another and couldn't keep apart." "Oh, I never felt anything of that kind, uncle, and I rarely write letters if I can help it." "Then you can't be in love," said the major triumphantly. "But were you really in love, uncle, with Lady Mary--Mary--" "Callaghan, my dear. Yes." "But you did not marry her, uncle." "N-no--no; you are quite right, my dear, I did not. Circumstances occurred and--er--we were not married. But really, Glynne, my dear, you are a most extraordinary girl." "I am very sorry." "Don't say that, my dear; but--er--I--er--this is a very serious thing, this promising yourself in marriage, and I--er--I--er--should like you to be perfectly sure that you are doing wisely. I think a great deal of you, my dear--old bachelor as I am, and it would trouble me more than I can say if you did not make a happy match." "Dear uncle," she said tenderly, as she clasped her hands upon his arm, and clung to him more closely. "But you need not be afraid, for Robert says he loves me very dearly, and what more could a woman desire?" "Humph! No, of course not, my dear," said the major, looking more perplexed than ever, as he gazed down into the unruffled face by his side. "Untouched, if I know anything of womankind," he said to himself, "but if I attempt to interfere I shall be making trouble, and upset Jack as well. What the devil shall I do?" There came no mental answer to this self-put question, and the communings were stopped by Glynne herself, who went on thoughtfully and in the most matter-of-fact way. "I told Robert that we must not think of being married for some time to come, and he said he was glad of that." "Said he was glad of it!" cried the major, looking at her aghast. "Yes, uncle, dear. You see he has to make so many engagements beforehand. His card is quite full for matches of one kind and another." "Is it indeed?" said the major sarcastically. "Yes, uncle. He has to go in training--in training--in training--for, what did he call it? Oh, I remember; in training for the various events, and he would not like to break any of them and pay forfeit." The major's eyes rolled in their sockets, and he seemed to be trying to swallow something that was extremely unsavoury, but he held his peace. "He says these engagements take up a great deal of his time; but the people like him, so that he can't very well get out of them."