apa said I could marry who I wanted to provided that he was
decent, so please give your written consent to the _grand seigneur_
who brings this. His name is Arranstoun, and he is indigenous to
this Castle, and really an aristocrat who papa and mamma would have
approved of, although he unfortunately has no title----"

"I had to put in that, you see," and she looked up explainingly,
"because it sounds so ordinary if he'd never heard of Arranstoun--we
wouldn't have, only Uncle Mortimer was looking out for old ruins to
visit--well," and she continued her recital, while Michael lowered his
head to hide the smile in his eyes.

"We wish to get married on Thursday so please be quick about the
consent, as Uncle Mortimer wants me to marry his nephew, Samuel
Greenbank, who I hate. Agree, sir, the expression of my sentiments,
the most distinguished

"Sabine Delburg."

"P.S. I will want all my money, 50,000 dollars a year I believe it
is, on Friday morning."

Then she looked up with pride.

"Don't you think that will do?"

Michael was overcome--his voice shook with enchanted mirth.

"Admirably," he assured her, with what solemnity he could.

Sabine seemed thoroughly satisfied with herself.

"That's all right, then. Now I must be off, or they will be coming to
look for me, and that would be a bore."

"But we have not made all the arrangements for our wedding." The
prospective bridegroom thought it prudent to remind her. "When can you
come on Thursday? My train gets in about six."

"Thursday," and she contracted her dark eyebrows. "Let me see--Yes, we
are staying until Saturday to see the remains of Elbank Monastery--but I
don't know how I can slip away, unless--only it would be so late. I
could say I had a headache and go to bed early without dinner, and get
here about eight while they were having theirs. It is still quite
light--I often had to pretend things at the Convent to get a moment's
peace."

Michael reflected.

"Better not chance eight--as you say it is quite light then and they
might see you. Slip out of the hotel at nine. The park gate is, as you
know, right across the road. I will wait for you inside, and we can walk
here in a few minutes--and come up these balcony steps--and the chapel
is down that passage--through this door. See."

He went and opened the door, and she followed him--talking as she
walked.