"The ten minutes are up," he said; "now sit down, Carlyon, and let us talk about coming events. Alicia and I will call to see Miss Armytage to-morrow, taking the privilege of old friends." "Thank you," said Sir Percy, and could not force himself to say more. "How strangely things fall out," continued the General pleasantly. "I had no thought when I came to Washington that I should leave Alicia behind me." "You won’t leave me for long, papa," replied Alicia, "because I know in two or three months’ time I shall ask Senator March to take me to England and then we will bring you back." "Oh, yes!" replied General Talbott, smiling, "there will be an eternal fetching and carrying, and some day I shall be a rickety old fellow; then you and March will probably throw me over." Alicia only answered him with a look which was eloquent. General Talbott did not think Sir Percy’s silence strange; Englishmen are not likely to be talkative under such circumstances; so General Talbott, full of sympathy and kindliness, kept on: "After having seen Miss Armytage, my dear fellow, one can safely congratulate you. The newspapers say the wedding comes off in the middle of June." "The newspapers are right for once," answered Sir Percy. "The wedding is to take place in Kentucky, so I am afraid I sha’n’t have the pleasure of Mrs. Vernon’s presence and yours." "No; we shall have our own affairs to attend to at that time. We are to be married ourselves, you know," answered General Talbott, laughing, and then Sir Percy said good-bye and went out. When he was gone General Talbott said to his daughter: "Miss Armytage is indeed a charming girl, but it is a pity she has not fortune and prestige such as Miss Chantrey has, and fortune and prestige are what Carlyon needs in a wife." Alicia Vernon made no reply and General Talbott, taking up a batch of newly arrived English newspapers, retired to his own room to read them.