s case, because I can't possibly live happy
ever after, unless I marry--first--now can I?"

"No, I s'pose not!" Small Porges admitted, albeit reluctantly, after he
had pondered the matter a while with wrinkled brow, "but why pick
out--my Auntie Anthea?"

"Just because she happens to be your Auntie Anthea, of course."

Small Porges sighed again:

"Why then, if she's got to be married some day, so she can live happy
ever after,--well,--I s'pose you'd better take her, Uncle Porges."

"Thank you, old chap,--I mean to."

"I'd rather you took her than Mr. Cassilis, an'--why there he is!"

"Who?"

"Mr. Cassilis. An' he's stopped, an' he's twisting his mestache."

Mr. Cassilis, who had been crossing the paddock, had indeed stopped,
and was twisting his black moustache, as if he were hesitating between
two courses. Finally, he pushed open the gate, and, approaching Bellew,
saluted him with that supercilious air which Miss Priscilla always
declared she found so "trying."

"Ah, Mr. Bellew! what might it be this morning,--the pitchfork--the
scythe, or the plough?" he enquired.

"Neither, sir,--this morning it is--matrimony!"

"Eh!--I beg your pardon,--matrimony?"

"With a large M, sir," nodded Bellew, "marriage, sir,--wedlock; my
nephew and I are discussing it in its aspects philosophical,
sociological, and--"

"That is surely rather a--peculiar subject to discuss with a child, Mr.
Bellew--"

"Meaning my nephew, sir?"

"I mean--young George, there."

"Precisely,--my nephew, Small Porges."

"I refer," said Mr. Cassilis, with slow, and crushing emphasis, "to Miss
Devine's nephew--"

"And mine, Mr. Cassilis,--mine by--er--mutual adoption, and
inclination."

"And I repeat that your choice of subjects is--peculiar, to say the
least of it."

"But then, mine is rather a peculiar nephew, sir. But, surely it was not
to discuss nephews,--mine or anyone else's, that you are hither come,
and our ears do wait upon you,--pray be seated, sir."

"Thank you, I prefer to stand."

"Strange!" murmured Bellew, shaking his head, "I never stand if I can
sit, or sit if I can lie down."

"I should like you to define, exactly, your position--here at
Dapplemere, Mr. Bellew."

Bellew's sleepy glance missed nothing of the other's challenging
attitude, and his ear, nothing of Mr. Cassilis's authoritative tone,
therefore his smile was most engaging as he answered:

"My position here, sir, is truly the most--er--enviable in the