“Oh yes, please, absolutely--unless it would comfort you awfully to do it.” “It wouldn’t comfort you. That’s what I have to think of. When do you start, Dick?” “In an hour or so--as soon as it’s properly dark.” “Then there’s plenty of time. I should so like the boy to be baptized before you go.” “Why not? I suppose the Padri won’t kick at the shortness of the notice? Georgie, will you be very much surprised? I should like to ask Burgrave to be godfather.” “Dick!” Georgia’s tone was full of dismay. “I thought of Colonel Graham--” Dick nodded approval--“and either Fitz Anstruther or Dr Tighe----” “I’d rather have Burgrave, if you don’t mind. He has come out strong to-night. I respect him more than any man I know. In his place I don’t believe I could have made the sacrifice he’s prepared to make.” “Then we will have him, of course. But Mabel is the godmother, naturally. Won’t she feel it awkward? You know they have quarrelled?” “That’s putting it mildly. I’m afraid it’s quite off.” “Ah, that’s what I was afraid of, too, but Mab always refuses to discuss the subject with me until I am stronger. I can’t force her confidence, you know.” “I suppose not, but there’s no need to be so awfully careful of her feelings. She has treated Burgrave shamefully, and so far as I can see, without the slightest excuse. She insists on engaging herself to him, and then she goes and breaks it off for no reason whatever. I’m disgusted with her.” “Oh, Dick, don’t be unkind to her! If she didn’t care for him it was only right to break it off. I told you she was miserable about it.” “Then she had no business to begin it. But don’t let us waste time over her nonsense, Georgie. Shall I go and speak to the Padri?” He opened the door, and stepped out on the verandah. “Why, Anstruther, you here? It’s not nearly dark enough to start yet.” Fitz smothered an exclamation of impatience. This was the second time he had been foiled in half-an-hour in an attempt to get a few words with Mabel. He had succeeded in catching her alone for a moment immediately after Dick had told him of the adventure in which he was to take part, and then Flora came and called her away, because the baby was breathing heavily in its sleep, and she was afraid something was wrong with it. On this occasion he had got hold of Flora herself, wasting no time in preliminaries. “Oh, I say, Miss Graham, could you manage to get Mabel here without telling her that I want to see her? I must speak to her before I go. I’m certain she cares for me a little, but she was so determined I should not see it that I couldn’t insult her by letting on that I did. But there’s no time now for any more fooling. I must tell her what I have to say, and there’s an end of it.”