d made the same
resolution every morning, but on this particular one he had no doubt he
would have put his fate to the touch. And why on a certain moonlight
evening was he left to the unsentimental company of the Countess?

He made no further reference to the visit to Brierley Park; in fact he
shunned discussion of any kind with his quondam bosom friend.

The time slipped past, till the visit to St Egbert's was almost at an end.
On the day after to-morrow all four were going to leave (where Mr Bunker
was going, his friend never troubled to inquire).

They sat together latish in the evening in the Baron's room. That very
afternoon Lady Alicia had spent more time in Mr Bunker's society than in
his, and the Baron felt that the hour had come for an explanation.

"Bonker, I haf a suspection!" he exclaimed, suddenly. "It is not I, bot
you, who are ze friend to ze beautiful Lady Alicia. You are not doing me
fair!"

"My dear Baron!"

"It is so: you are not doing me fair," the Baron reiterated.

"My dear fellow," replied Mr Bunker, "it is you are so much in love that
you have lost your wonted courage. You don't use your chances."

"I do not get zem."

"Nonsense, Baron! I haven't spent one hour in Lady Alicia's company to
your twenty-four, and yet if I'd been matrimonially inclined I could have
proposed twice over. You've had the chance of being accepted fifty times."

"I haf not been accepted vunce," said the Baron, moodily.

"Have you put the question?"

"I haf not dared."

"Well, my dear Baron, whose fault is that?"

The Baron was silent.

"Ask her to-morrow."

"No, Bonker," said the Baron, sadly; "she treats me not like a lover. She
talks of friendship. I do not vish a frient!"

Mr Bunker looked thoughtfully up at the ceiling. "You don't think you have
touched her heart?" he asked at length.

"I fear not."

"You must try an infallible recipe for winning a woman's heart. You must
be in trouble."

"In trouble!"

"I have tried it once myself, with great success."

"Bot how?"

"You must fall ill."

"Bot I cannot; I am too healthful, alas!"

Mr Bunker smiled artfully. "They come to tea in our rooms to-morrow, you
know. By then, Baron, you must be laid up, ill or not, just as you please.
A grain of Lady Alicia's sympathy is worth more than a ton of even your
wit."

The standard chosen for the measurement of his wit escaped the Baron, the
scheme delighted him.

"Ha, Bonker! schoen! I tvig! Goot!"