ok me by surprise just now. I ought to have been more on my
guard, and not have given him that promise."

"What promise?" demanded Mr. Mayne, harshly; and Nan hung her head,
and returned, shyly,--

"That I would marry him some time; but indeed--indeed he made me say
it, and I was so taken by surprise. No, Dick; you must let me finish,"
for Dick was looking at her with piteous entreaty in his eyes. "I know
we were wrong to say so much without your leave; but indeed I will do
your son no harm. I cannot marry any one else, because I am engaged to
him; but as far as he is concerned he is free. I will never marry him
without your permission; he shall not come here if you do not wish;
but do not be so angry with us;" and here her lip quivered. "If you
did not mean this to happen, you should have kept us apart all these
years."

"Oh, hush, dear!" whispered Dick in her ear; but Mr Mayne almost
thrust him aside, and laid a rough grasp on the girl's wrist. "Never
mind him: answer me one question. Are you serious in what you say,
that you will never marry him without my permission?"

"Of course I will not," answered Nan, quite shocked. "Dick would not
ask me to do such a thing; he is far too honorable, and--and--no one
would think of such a thing."

"Very well; that is all I wanted to know;" and he released her, not
over-gently: "the rest I can settle with Master Dick himself.
Good-morning, Miss Nancy: under the circumstances I do not think I
will wait to see your mother. I am not quite in the mood for ladies;
perhaps, later on, I may have something to say to her."

"Don't you mean to shake hands with me, Mr. Mayne?" asked poor Nan,
much distressed at the evil temper of Dick's father; but there was no
sign of softening.

"Yes; I will shake hands with you, and gladly, if you will promise to
be sensible and send this boy of mine about his business. Come now,
Nan; own for my comfort that it is only a bit of boy-and-girl
nonsense, that means nothing. I am not over-particular, and do not
object to a bit of flirting with young folk."

"You had better go with your father, Dick," returned Nan, with much
dignity, and quite ignoring this speech.

Dick seized the little hand that had been so rudely rejected, and
kissed it under his father's eyes.

"I will see you again somehow," he whispered, and Nan was quite
content with this promise. Dick would keep his word, she knew: he
would not leave Hadleigh without seeing her.

A very