"Prepared!" he exclaimed, putting his arm round her waist and kissing her. "Of course we will be prepared. Leave everything to me; and don't have any fear that I shall miss anything." "Are you sure, dear?" "Am I sure? Well, upon my word! There is only one thing in the world I should miss, and that is you--with a thousand apologies for calling you a thing. So long as you are with me, with your bright eyes and sweet face, and that pretty bit of ribbon about your neck--I love to see you dressed like a lady; of course that will always be--so long as we are together as we are now, it isn't possible for me to miss anything, because my bonnie Annie Laurie is all the world to me. Then, you know, there is a charm in change, a positive charm in coming down a bit. There's pheasant now, and partridge and grouse, and _pâté de foie gras_--why, I've run away from them for a cut of rump steak. As for champagne, which I could have swam in--really, Nansie, swam in--why, I would rather have a bottle of Bass any day. There were some of the long walks I used to take with a chum or two. Well, we walk a dozen miles and pull up at quite a common little inn, and call for bitter--in the pewter, Nansie--and bread and cheese. Was there ever anything like it? Never. The best meal I ever sat down to was nothing in comparison. I would look at my chums, and my chums would look at me, and we would all agree that we never ate and drank anything with such a relish. It was true. We'll take long walks together, Nansie, you and I, and you will say the same. I must leave you to-morrow morning, you know, my dear, for a couple of days to settle up all my old debts. There's the stable bill--I shall have to sell my horse--and the jeweller's bill." "Kingsley, dear," said Nansie, interrupting him. "Yes, Nansie." "This watch and chain was bought of the jeweller, was it not?" She pointed to a pretty watch and chain she was wearing, which, with a locket, he had given to her on the morning they had disclosed to Nansie's father the secret of their marriage. "Yes, my dear," he said, gayly. "And was not paid for when you gave it to me?" "And was not paid for," he repeated, in the same gay tone, "when I gave it to you. But," he added, "it will be before I return." "Don't you think, Kingsley, dear, that it would be best for you to ask the jeweller to take it back? It will make your account lighter." "What?" he cried. "Rob you of my own gift! Not likely, Nansie. Well, that is an idea to get into your head! And you call yourself practical!" "I think it would be right, my dear, and I can do very well without it." "And _I_ think it would be wrong, and I am certain you could _not_ do very well without it. And the locket, too--why, Nansie, it has my portrait in it!" "I should like to keep the locket," said Nansie, opening it and gazing fondly at the handsome, smiling face of her lover and husband.