"Oh, but not much. No!--you took a dear, unworldly generous view of it!--a view which has encouraged me immensely!" "You!" Lady Niton drew back, and drew up, as though scenting battle, while her wig and cap slipped more astray. "Yes--me. It's made me think--well, that I ought to have told you a secret of mine weeks ago." And with a resolute and combative air, Bobbie suddenly unburdened himself of the story of his engagement--to a clergyman's daughter, without a farthing, his distant cousin on his mother's side, and quite unknown to Lady Niton. His listener emitted a few stifled cries--asked a few furious questions--and then sat rigid. "Well?" said Bobbie, masking his real anxiety under a smiling appearance. With a great effort, Lady Niton composed herself. She stretched out a claw and resumed her work, two red spots on her cheeks. "Marry her, if you like," she said, with delusive calm. "I sha'n't ever speak to you again. A scheming minx without a penny!--that ought never to have been allowed out of the school-room." Bobbie leaped from his chair. "Is that the way you mean to take it?" Lady Niton nodded. "That is the way I mean to take it!" "What a fool I was to believe your fine speeches about Oliver!" "Oliver may go to the devil!" cried Lady Niton. "Very well!" Bobbie's dignity was tremendous. "Then I don't mean to be allowed less liberty than Oliver. It's no good continuing this conversation. Why, I declare! some fool has been meddling with those books!" And rapidly crossing the floor, swelling with wrath and determination, Bobbie opened the bookcase of first editions which stood in this inner drawing-room and began to replace some volumes, which had strayed from their proper shelves, with a deliberate hand. "You resemble Oliver in one thing!" Lady Niton threw after him. "What may that be?" he said, carelessly. "You both find gratitude inconvenient!" Bobbie turned and bowed. "I do!" he said, "inconvenient, and intolerable! Hullo!--I hear the carriage. I beg you to remark that what I told you was confidential. It is not to be repeated in company." Lady Niton had only time to give him a fierce look when the door opened, and Lady Lucy came wearily in. Bobbie hastened to meet her. "My dear Lady Lucy!--what news?" "Oliver is in!" "Hurrah!" Bobbie shook her hand vehemently. "I am glad!" Lady Niton, controlling herself with difficulty, rose from her seat, and also offered a hand. "There, you see, Lucy, you needn't have been so anxious." Lady Lucy sank into a chair. "What's the majority?" said Bobbie, astonished by her appearance and manner. "I say, you know, you've been working too hard."