ler and footman brought in the tea,
eyeing their master's guest furtively, while they maintained that
superbly aloof manner of well-bred English servants. The pause their
entrance caused gave Mr. Arranstoun time to think, and an idea gradually
began to unfold itself in his brain--and unconsciously he took out, and
then replaced in his breast pocket, a mauve, closely-written letter,
while a frown of deep cogitation crept over his face.

Miss Delburg, for her part, was only thrilled with the sight of the very
agreeable tea, and after waiting a moment to see what her preoccupied
host would do when the servants left the room, hunger forced her to fall
to the temptation of a particularly appetizing chocolate cake, which she
surreptitiously seized, and began munching with the frank joy of a
child.

"I do love them!" she sighed, "and we never were allowed them, only once
a month after Moravia Cloudwater got that awful toothache, and had to
have a big grinder pulled out."

Michael was paying no attention to her; he had walked rapidly up and
down the room once or twice, much to her astonishment.

At last he spoke.

"I have an idea--but first let me give you some tea--No--do help
yourself," then he paused awkwardly, and she at once proceeded to fill
her cup.

Binko had condescended to emerge from his basket under the table.
Tea-time was an hour when he allowed himself to take an interest in
human beings.

"Oh! you darling!" the girl cried, putting down her cup. "You fat,
lovely, wrinkly darling!"

"He is a nice dog," his master admitted; his voice was actually
nervous--and he pulled Binko to him by his solid, fleshy paws, while he
sat down in his chair again.

Miss Delburg had got back into her seat, where she munched a cake and
continued her tea. The chair was so deep and long that her little bits
of feet did not nearly reach the ground, but dangled there.

"Mayn't I pour you out some, too?" she asked, getting forward again. "I
do love to pour out--and do you take sugar--? I like lumps and lumps of
it."

"Oh--er--yes," Michael agreed absently, and then he went on with the
determined air of a person getting something off his chest. "I hardly
know how to say what I am thinking of, it sounds so strange. Listen--I
also must marry someone--anyone--to avert a fate I don't want--What do
you say to marrying _me_?"

The teapot came down into the tray with a bump, while the round,
childish eyes grew like saucers with asto