"Good guess, mother. Glynne Day is to be my wife by-and-by. The old man is agreeable and the major isn't. So now, the sooner you go and call upon them and make it all right the better." Poor Marjorie dropped out of Mrs Rolph's sight. "Rob! my dear boy!" she cried as she flung her arms about her son's neck to kiss him fondly, while Marjorie rose slowly, looking white even to her lips, and with a peculiar smile dawning upon them as her eyes flashed upon the group before her. "I knew I could trust you, Rob," cried Mrs Rolph; and then, recollecting herself, "Madge, my poor child, I am very sorry, but, you see, it was not to be." "No, auntie dear," said the girl, with the smile growing more marked; "marriages are made in Heaven, you know. I shall not mind--much. Of course the great aim of all our lives was to see dear Rob happy. Glynne Day is very beautiful and sweet, and a daughter of whom you will be quite proud. I should be deceitful if I did not own to being grievously disappointed, but, as was natural, Rob's love for me has only been that of a brother for a sister"--she fixed Rolph's eyes as she spoke, and his turned shiftily away--"and if I have been a little silly, the pain will soon wear off. Glynne Day. How nice. I'm sure I shall love her very much, though she is rather cold. Isn't she, Rob?" "That is very nice of you, Madge, my dear," said Mrs Rolph, embracing her niece. "And who knows how soon another prince may come, my dear." "Oh, aunt!" "And you will try to forget all this?" "Of course, aunt, dear. It was fate," said the girl innocently. "And--and you will not mind going over to Brackley with me to call?" "I, mind? Oh, auntie, I should be horribly disappointed if you did not take me. There, Rob," she continued, with a little sigh, "that's all over, and I congratulate you--brother; and I shall kiss dearest Glynne as I kiss you now." "Humph! thought she was going to bite me," muttered Rolph. Then aloud, "Well, Madge, it was a bit of a flirtation, I own. Now, then, as you've behaved like a trump, so will I. What shall it be--a pearl locket, or diamonds, or a bracelet?" "Oh, how good and generous you are, Rob dear. How nice of you!" cried Marjorie in gushing tones. "I have so often longed for a sapphire bracelet." "Then you shall have one," said Rolph, but not quite so warmly as he had spoken before. "I'm off now." "Won't you stay to lunch, dear?" said Mrs Rolph. "No. I shall have a sandwich in my room. I'm training. I say! can you go over this afternoon?" "Of course we will, dear," said Mrs Rolph, warmly; and there was a look of relief in her eyes. "Then that's all settled," said Rolph; and he left the room, not noticing the hard look in his cousin's eyes. "Sorry about poor old Ben Hayle," he muttered as he went to his own room. "But perhaps it's best. Going to be married, and must be a good boy now."