The party of four sat in a hut circle and spoke little while they ate and drank. Rupert, unknown to the rest, and much to his own inconvenience, had dragged up six stone bottles of ginger-beer hidden under his coat. These he produced and was much applauded. A spring broke at hand, and the bottles were sunk therein to cool them. They talked together after a very practical and businesslike fashion. Milly and Rupert were definitely engaged in their own opinion, and now when Mark, who could not keep in the stupendous event of the moment, announced it, they congratulated the newly engaged couple with the wisdom and experience of those who had long entered that state. "'Tis a devilish unrestful condition, I can promise you," said Rupert, "and the man always finds it so if the girl don't. Hanging on is just hell--especially in my case, where I can't get father to see with my eyes. But, thank God, Milly's jonic. She won't change." "No," said Milly, "I shan't change. 'Tis you have got to change. I respect your father very much, like the rest of the world, but because he didn't marry till he was turned forty-five, that's no reason why you should wait twenty years for it. Anyway, if you must, so will I--only I shall be a thought elderly for the business by that time. However, it rests with you." "I'm going--that's what she means," explained Rupert. "Jack Head and me have had a talk, and he's thrown a lot of light on things in general. I can't be bound hand and foot to my father like this; and if he won't meet me, I must take things into my own hands and leave home." Mark was staggered at the enormity of such a plan. "Don't do anything in a hurry and without due thought." "Very well for you to talk," said Milly. "You do nought but ring the bells on Sundays, and play at work the rest of the week. Mr. Humphrey won't stand in your way. I suppose you could be married afore Christmas, if you pleased." She sighed at the glorious possibility. "I hope we shall be; but Cora's in no hurry, I'm afraid." "And when I've got work," continued Rupert, "then I shall just look round and take a house and marry; and why not?" "Your father will never let you go. It isn't to be thought upon," declared Mark. "Then he must be reasonable. He appears to forget I'm nearly twenty-four," answered his cousin. Conversation ranged over their problems and their hopes. Then Rupert touched another matrimonial disappointment. "It looks as if we were not to be fortunate in love," he said. "There's Ned terrible down on his luck. He's offered marriage again--to Farmer Chave's second daughter; and 'twas as good as done; but Mr. Chave wouldn't hear of it, and he's talked the girl round and Ned's got chucked." "Serve him right," said Milly. "He jilted two girls. 'Twill do him good to smart a bit himself."