Sir Arthur came quickly to the rescue, as he said, “He's going to take up an appointment under the Crown; and, like a good and prudent lad, to earn his bread, and do something towards his mother's comfort.” “I think you never take sugar,” said she, smiling faintly; “and for a while you made a convert of Alice.” Was there ever a more common-place remark? and yet it sent the blood to poor Tony's face and temples, and overwhelmed him with confusion. “You know that the girls are both away?” “It's a capital thing they 've given him,” said Sir Arthur, trying to extract from his wife even the semblance of an interest in the young fellow's career. “What is it?” asked she. “How do they call you? Are you a Queen's messenger, or a Queen's courier, or a Foreign Office messenger?” “I'm not quite sure. I believe we are messengers, but whose I don't remember.” “They have the charge of all the despatches to the various embassies and legations in every part of the world,” said Sir Arthur, pompously. “How addling it must be,--how confusing!” “Why so? You don't imagine that they have to retain them, and report them orally, do you?” “Well, I 'm afraid I did,” said she, with a little simper that seemed to say, What did it signify either way? “They'd have made a most unlucky selection in my case,” said Tony, laughing, “if such had been the duty.” “Do you think you shall like it?” “I suppose I shall. There is so very little I 'm really fit for, that I look on this appointment as a piece of rare luck.” “I fancy I 'd rather have gone into the army,--a cavalry regiment, for instance.” “The most wasteful and extravagant career a young fellow could select,” said Sir Arthur, smarting under some recent and not over-pleasant experiences. “The uniform is so becoming too,” said she, languidly. “It is far and away beyond any pretension of my humble fortune, Madam,” said Tony, proudly, for there was an impertinent carelessness in her manner that stung him to the quick. “Ah, yes,” sighed she; “and the army, too, is not the profession for one who wants to marry.” Tony again felt his cheek on fire, but he did not utter a word as she went on, “And report says something like this of you, Mr. Butler.” “What, Tony! how is this? I never heard of it before,” cried Sir Arthur. “Nor I, sir.” “Come, come. It is very indiscreet of me, I know,” said Lady Lyle; “but as we are in such a secret committee here at this moment, I fancied I might venture to offer my congratulations.” “Congratulations! on what would be the lad's ruin! Why, it would be downright insanity. I trust there is not a word of truth in it.” “I repeat, sir, that I hear it all for the first time.” “I conclude, then, I must have been misinformed.” “Might I be bold enough to ask from what quarter the rumor reached you, or with whom they mated me?”