e of your
grooms, or footmen,--consequently you force me to remind you of the
fact; furthermore,--"

"That is no answer!" said Mr. Cassilis, his gloved hands tight-clenched
upon his hunting-crop,--his whole attitude one of menace.

"Furthermore," pursued Bellew placidly, settling the tobacco in his pipe
with his thumb, "you can continue to--er demand, until all's blue, and I
shall continue to lie here, and smoke, and gaze up at the smiling
serenity of heaven."

The black brows of Mr. Cassilis met in a sudden frown, he tossed his
whip aside, and took a sudden quick stride towards the recumbent Bellew
with so evident an intention, that Small Porges shrank instinctively
further within the encircling arm.

But, at that psychic moment, very fortunately for all concerned, there
came the sound of a quick, light step, and Anthea stood between them.

"Mr. Cassilis!--Mr. Bellew!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushed, and her
bosom heaving with the haste she had made, "pray whatever does
this mean?"

Bellew rose to his feet, and seeing Cassilis was silent, shook his head
and smiled:

"Upon my word, I hardly know, Miss Anthea. Our friend Mr. Cassilis seems
to have got himself all worked up over the--er--sale, I fancy--"

"The furniture!" exclaimed Anthea, and stamped her foot with vexation.
"That wretched furniture! Of course you explained your object in buying
it, Mr. Bellew?"

"Well, no,--we hadn't got as far as that."

Now when he said this, Anthea's eyes flashed sudden scorn at him, and
she curled her lip at him, and turned her back upon him:

"Mr. Bellew bought my furniture because he intends to set up
house-keeping--he is to be married--soon, I believe."

"When the moon is at the full!" nodded Bellew.

"Married!" exclaimed Mr. Cassilis, his frown vanishing as if by magic.
"Oh, indeed--"

"I am on my way to the hop-gardens, if you care to walk with me, Mr.
Cassilis?" and, with the words, Anthea turned, and, as he watched them
walk away, together,--Bellew noticed upon the face of Mr. Cassilis an
expression very like triumph, and, in his general air, a suggestion of
proprietorship that jarred upon him most unpleasantly.

"Why do you frown so, Uncle Porges?"

"I--er--was thinking, nephew."

"Well, I'm thinking, too!" nodded Small Porges, his brows knitted
portentously. And thus they sat, Big, and Little Porges, frowning in
unison at space for quite a while.

"Are you quite sure you never told my Auntie Anthea