In the meantime Osborne bent over his sister, and whispered in her ear,-- 'Kate, it is all settled between Marie and me. I shall write to mother this evening. I know you think I have done well.' 'I am sure of it, George. It will be very sudden and unexpected news for mother.' 'But don't you think when she sees and knows my Marie she will like her as you do?' 'I am quite sure of it, George. All I meant to say was that it will be a surprise. I am sure in the end she will like her. Who could help liking her?' 'Who could help it? as you say, Kate, dear. I think no man on earth could be happier than I am to-day.' The servant put in her head. 'Miss Gordon. A gentleman to see Miss Gordon.' 'She is in her own room,' answered Miss Osborne. A few minutes passed. The servant put in her head once more,-- 'Miss Gordon would be obliged if Miss Osborne would step into the parlour.' Kate rose. George bent over her, and whispered,-- 'You will kiss your new sister when you meet her?' 'Yes, George. I wish you all the happiness in the world, my dear good brother. You deserve it.' Miss Osborne left. Once more the servant entered the room. 'Miss Gordon begs Mr Osborne to come to the parlour.' 'She wishes to introduce me to her friend,' thought he, as he set out. When he reached the parlour there were four people in it. His sweetheart, his sister, and a man whose back was towards him. Osborne advanced with a cordial, open smile. Nothing could please him more than to meet a friend of hers on this great day. 'Allow me,' said his radiant sweetheart, 'to introduce to you Miss Osborne's brother. Mr Osborne--' She paused, and laughed a rich, full laugh. 'By-the-way, although you are so old a friend of mine as you say, I do not know your name.' The man turned round, and Osborne looked at him. With a cry he started back. 'I think I have seen your face before,' said the stranger. 'Yes,' whispered Osborne. 'Your name is Parkinson.' 'It is.' George raised his eyes, and fixed them with a wild look on Marie's face. CHAPTER VI. AN OLD FRIEND AND A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 'He here! He introduced to me by her! What does this mean? What can this mean?' At that moment half-defined mental doubts looked in upon him out of satyr faces. 'This man here! This man introduced to me by _her!_ What can it mean?' 'Parkinson!' echoed Miss Gordon. 'Parkinson! Surely I have heard that name very lately, and yet I never knew the name of Ethel's husband.' 'Well,' said the stranger, with a smile, 'I am Ethel's husband, and I am Parkinson!' 'This is the gentleman of whose address I told you yesterday,' said Osborne drearily.