s going with him, and Deborah
and Amilly are crying their eyes out, at the thought of parting with
her."

Lady Verner looked up at Jan, an expression of eager hope on her face.
She could have kissed him a thousand times. Lionel--Lionel took his hat
and walked out.

Believing it? No. The temptation to chastise Jan was growing great, and
he deemed it well to remove himself out of it. Jan was right, however.

Much to the surprise of Frederick Massingbird, very much to the surprise
of Sibylla, Dr. West not only gave his consent to the marriage as soon
as asked, but urged it on. If Fred must depart in a week, why, they
could be married in a week, he said. Sibylla was thunderstruck: Miss
Deborah and Miss Amilly gave vent to a few hysterical shrieks, and
hinted about the wedding clothes and the outfit. _That_ could be got
together in a day, was the reply of Dr. West, and they were too much
astonished to venture to say it could not.

"You told me to wait for Lionel Verner," whispered Sibylla, when she and
her father were alone, as she stood before him, trembling. In her mind's
eye she saw Verner's Pride slipping from her; and it gave her chagrin,
in spite of her love for Fred Massingbird.

Dr. West leaned forward and whispered a few words in her ear. She
started violently, she coloured crimson. "Papa!"

"It is true," nodded the doctor.

As Lionel passed the house on his way from Deerham Court to Verner's
Pride, he turned into it, led by a powerful impulse. He did not believe
Jan, but the words had made him feel twitchings of uneasiness. Fred
Massingbird had gone then, and the doctor was out. Lionel looked into
the drawing-room, and there found the two elder Misses West, each
dissolved in a copious shower of tears. So far, Jan's words were borne
out. A sharp spasm shot across his heart.

"You are in grief," he said, advancing to them. "What is the cause?"

"The most dreadful voyage for her!" ejaculated Miss Deborah. "The ship
may go to the bottom before it gets there."

"And not so much as time to _think_ of proper things for her, let alone
getting them!" sobbed Miss Amilly. "It's all a confused mass in my mind
together--bonnets, and gowns, and veils, and wreaths, and trunks, and
petticoats, and calico things for the voyage!"

Lionel felt his lips grow pale. They were too much engrossed to notice
him; nevertheless, he covered his face with his hand as he stood by the
mantel-piece. "Where is she going?" he quietly as