“I’m ashamed to say it hasn’t.” “Then I am quite satisfied. I can scarcely aspire to regulate your thoughts just at present, can I? But so long as you respect my wishes----” “Oh, what a lot of trouble it would save if we were all comfortably killed to-night!” cried Mabel, with a sudden change of mood. Mr Burgrave was shocked, and showed it. “I’m in earnest, Eustace.” “My dear child, you can hardly expect me to believe that you would welcome the horrors which the storming of this place would entail?” “Oh no; of course not. You are so horribly literal. Can’t you see that my nerves are all on edge? I do wish you understood things. If you won’t talk about what’s going to be done to-night, do go away, and don’t stay here and be mysterious.” “Dear child, do you think I shall judge you hardly for this feminine weakness? You need not be afraid of hurting or shocking me. Say anything you like; I shall put it down to the true cause. If your varying moods have taught me nothing else, at least I have learnt since our engagement to take your words at their proper valuation.” “If you pile many more loads of obligation upon me, I shall expire!” said Mabel sharply, only to receive a kind smile in return. Anything more that she might have said, in the amiable design of shocking him beyond forgiveness, was prevented by the appearance of Mrs Hardy. “Is it true that you are going to arm all the civilians in the place, Mr Burgrave?” she demanded of the Commissioner. “It is thought well--merely as a precautionary measure.” “Then I do beg and beseech you to give Mr Hardy a rifle that won’t go off, or we shall all be shot.”