"She was. She was more generous than she knew. Well"--catching himself up suddenly--"we really must go to her now, Elizabeth. I told her I would only come in here, where I have no business to be to-day, for half a minute, and I have stayed more than half an hour. It is nearly dinner time, and I have a great deal to do this evening. I have more to do even than I bargained for." "Why more?" she asked, apprehensively. "I am going to have some papers prepared by Mr. Brion and the major's lawyers, which you will have to sign before you surrender your independence to-morrow." "I won't sign anything," said Elizabeth. "Oh, won't you! We'll see about that." "I know what it means. You will make me sign away your freedom to use that money as your own--and I won't do it." "We'll see," he repeated, smiling with an air which said plainly that if she thought herself a free agent she was very much mistaken. CHAPTER XLIII. THE EVENING BEFORE THE WEDDING. "Now, where is that portmanteau?" "It is in my room." "Strapped up?" "Yes." "Let me take it down to the cab. Have you anything else to do?" "Only to change my dress." "Don't be long about it; it is seven o'clock. I will wait for you downstairs." Mr. Yelverton walked into the passage, possessed himself of the portmanteau, and descended the stairs to the little hall below. The wide-eyed maid-of-all-work hastened to offer her services. She had never volunteered to carry luggage for the Miss Kings, but she seemed horrified at the sight of this stalwart gentleman making a porter of himself. "Allow me, sir," she said, sweetly, with her most engaging smile. "Thank you, my girl; I think I am better able to carry it than you are," he said, pleasantly. But he scrutinised her face with his keen eyes for a moment, and then took a sovereign from his pocket and slipped it into her hand. "Go and see if you can help Miss King," he said. "And ask her if there is anything you can do for her while she is away from home." "Oh, sir"--simpering and blushing--"I'm sure--_anything_--" and she rushed upstairs and offered her services to Elizabeth in such acceptable fashion that the bride-elect was touched almost to tears, as by the discovery of a new friend. It seemed to her that she had never properly appreciated Mary Ann before.