family be hanged! I'm not going to tell them yet."

"When will you?" she asked, disengaging herself with a difficulty that
impressed her still further.

"Time enough when I get back from London."

The widow was not altogether unsophisticated. This blend of abandonment
and secrecy impressed her unfavorably. She had known of more than one
ballroom proposal where the gentleman was just sufficiently master of
his emotions to stipulate for silence till he had departed on a
twelvemonth's furlough.

"How soon are you coming back?" she inquired.

"Week or two," he answered airily.

"A week or two to see Colonel Munro!"

"Intricate business," he answered her, with a fresh salute.

"Poor old Charles Munro is a kind of relation of mine," she observed.

He eyed her with more surprise than passion.

"Oh! I didn't know that."

"I haven't written to him for years. I think I must send him a letter
this week."

Mr. Walkingshaw realized that he was marrying brains as well as beauty.
He also realized that Colonel Munro was now part of his London
programme. However, on second thoughts, Charlie Munro was a dear old
fellow, and very likely he'd have been looking him up in any case. His
spirits bounded up again. In fact, why should they ever sink with such a
fair creature by his side?

"Do, darling," he whispered.

She surrendered herself to his affection and sighed happily. Why should
she feel disturbed with one of the most respectable of Writers to the
Signet pledged to devote his declining years to her consolation?

"I trust you, Heriot," she murmured.

"My little duck!" he answered tenderly.

* * * * *

At twelve o'clock next morning the London express thundered on to the
bridge across the Solway. Mr. Walkingshaw looked up at his son.

"We're out of Scotland now," he said, with a sigh of reminiscent ardor.
"Home and beauty are far behind us, Frank."

Then in a different key he added--

"It is curious that my spirits should keep rising."

From which it appeared that he had grown young enough to realize that
though lunch may be over, there is always dinner to look forward to.

PART III

CHAPTER I

Colonel Munro drew the ends of his white tie through the loop in the
middle with infinite care. In a very wide circle of acquaintances he was
universally known as "Charlie" Munro; and you had only to look at him to
see how appropriate was this gallant diminutive. His head