o.

"Beg pardon, Sir Hilton," cried Mark, eagerly. "Didn't know you meant
to come back to-night. Thought I'd run over and see if all was right at
home."

"Humph!" grunted the baronet, entering the porch and reeling slightly as
he raised one hand to his head.

"Steady, uncle!" cried Syd. "Mind the cob, Mark. Lead him away, but
come back and take Mr Simpkins's nag too."

The boy turned to meet the big, burly man, who drew his vehicle up to
the door and stopped to look back.

"Can you help her down, youngster--my boy, I mean?"

"Yes, all right, sir."

"I can jump down, dad," cried the occupant of the seat. "Now, Syd,
catch me; look out!"

The boy's intentions were admirable, and the young lady light; but, as
Mark afterwards said to Jane, with a chuckle, when he knew all, "Master
Syd wasn't up to her weight." For, as the young wife alighted, she was
caught, but the catcher staggered back, and would have fallen but for
the lady's agility, for she not only saved herself but clung to the
boy's hands, so that he only sat down on the steps.

"Houp-la!" she cried, striking a little attitude.

"Hullo! Hurt?" growled Simpkins.

"No, he's all right, dad. Ain't you, Syd dear?"

"Hurt, no," cried the boy. "But those stones are hard. Come along in."

"Wait a moment, my gal," growled the trainer, and he drew his child
aside.

"What's the matter, dad?"

"Nothing. I'm going round to see the mare put up and fed. I shall be
in directly. But look here, don't you commit yourself before I come."

"Who's going to?" said the girl, merrily, as she seemed to take the
nocturnal excursion as a capital bit of fun.

"Well, I only warn you, my gal. Mind, you're as good as they are.
Don't you let 'em begin sitting upon you because you've got a fine
chance."

"All right, dad. I'm to be a different sort of furniture from that."

"I dunno what you mean, my gal--some of your larks, I suppose. But just
you mind; don't put it in these here words, but when my orty fine lady
begins on you, just you say to her, ses you, `None o' that! I'm as good
as you.'"

"What's he saying, darling?" cried Syd, impatiently.

"Not much, young gentleman; only telling her to mind now you have
brought her home as she has her rights."

Syd caught his young wife's hands and hurried her into the hall, and
from thence into the drawing-room, where he found his uncle impatiently
walking up and down.

"Oh, it's you, Syd," said the baronet,