aid Mr. Tipping, suddenly
becoming serious.

"This is the first bit of happiness I've had since I saw you last,"
murmured Flower.

Miss Tipping squeezed his arm again.

"It seems almost too good to be true," he continued. "I'm almost afraid
I shall wake up and find it all a dream."

"Oh, you're wide-awake enough," said Mr. Tipping.

"Wide-awake ain't the word for it," said the other gentleman, shaking
his head.

"Uncle," said Miss Tipping, sharply.

"Yes, my dear," said the other, uneasily.

"Keep your remarks for those that like them," said his dutiful niece,
"or else get out and walk."

Mr. Porson, being thus heckled, subsided into defiant mutterings,
intended for Dick Tipping's ear alone, and the remainder of the drive to
Chelsea passed almost in silence. Arrived at the Blue Posts, Flower got
out with well-simulated alacrity, and going into the bar, shook hands
heartily with Mrs. Tipping before she quite knew what he was doing.

"You've got him, then," she said, turning to her daughter, "and now I
hope you're satisfied. Don't stand in the bar; I can't say what I want
to say here--come in the parlour and shut the door."

They followed the masterful lady obediently into the room indicated.

"And now, Mr. Robinson," she said, with her hands on her hips, "now for
your explanation."

"I have explained to Matilda," said Flower, waving his hand.

"That's quite right, mar," said Miss Tipping, nodding briskly.

"He's had a dreadful time, poor feller," said Dick Tipping, unctuously.
"He's been hunted all over England by--who was it, Mister Robinson?"

"The parties I'm working against," said Flower, repressing his choler by
a strong effort.

"The parties he's working against," repeated Mr. Tipping.

"Somebody ought to talk to them parties," said Mr. Porson, speaking with
much deliberation, "that is, if they can find 'em."

"They want looking after, that's what they want," said Dick Tipping,
with a leer.

"It's all very well for you to make fun of it," said Mrs. Tipping,
raising her voice. "I like plain, straightforward dealing folk myself. I
don't under-stand nothing about your secret services and Governments
and all that sort of thing. Mr. Robinson, have you come back prepared to
marry my daughter? Because, if you ain't, we want to know why not."

"Of course I have," said Flower, hotly. "It's the dearest wish of my
life. I should have come before, only I thought when she didn't answer
my letter that