e with you; and the lawyer's claim is,
therefore, the claim to be preferred."

"I knew you would say that. In all the thousands of times I have asked
other people for advice, I never yet got the advice I wanted. Here's
this business of letting the cottage as an instance. I'm all on the
other side myself. I want to have the major."

"Why?"

Young Armadale laid his forefinger on that part of the agent's letter
which enumerated Major Milroy's family, and which contained the three
words--"a young lady."

"A bachelor of studious habits walking about my grounds," said Allan,
"is not an interesting object; a young lady is. I have not the least
doubt Miss Milroy is a charming girl. Ozias Midwinter of the serious
countenance! think of her pretty muslin dress flitting about among your
trees and committing trespasses on your property; think of her adorable
feet trotting into your fruit-garden, and her delicious fresh lips
kissing your ripe peaches; think of her dimpled hands among your early
violets, and her little cream-colored nose buried in your blush-roses.
What does the studious bachelor offer me in exchange for the loss of all
this? He offers me a rheumatic brown object in gaiters and a wig. No!
no! Justice is good, my dear friend; but, believe me, Miss Milroy is
better."

"Can you be serious about any mortal thing, Allan?"

"I'll try to be, if you like. I know I ought to take the lawyer; but
what can I do if the major's daughter keeps running in my head?"

Midwinter returned resolutely to the just and sensible view of the
matter, and pressed it on his friend's attention with all the persuasion
of which he was master. After listening with exemplary patience until
he had done, Allan swept a supplementary accumulation of litter off the
cabin table, and produced from his waistcoat pocket a half-crown coin.

"I've got an entirely new idea," he said. "Let's leave it to chance."

The absurdity of the proposal--as coming from a landlord--was
irresistible. Midwinter's gravity deserted him.

"I'll spin," continued Allan, "and you shall call. We must give
precedence to the army, of course; so we'll say Heads, the major; Tails,
the lawyer. One spin to decide. Now, then, look out!"

He spun the half-crown on the cabin table.

"Tails!" cried Midwinter, humoring what he believed to be one of Allan's
boyish jokes.

The coin fell on the table with the Head uppermost.

"You don't mean to say you are really in earnest!" said