marry you."

Captain Lovell seemed to be of a different opinion. He bit his lip,
looking angry and annoyed.

"You go too fast, Mr. Jones," he replied very stiffly; "I have never
given the young lady you mention an opportunity of either accepting or
refusing me. If ever _I am_ fool enough to marry, I shall take the
liberty of selecting my own wife, without consulting your taste; and I
really cannot undertake to wed every lively young lady that
condescends to flirt with me, merely _pour passer le temps_."

John's face grew dark with anger. How noble he looked as he squared
his fine figure and reared his gallant head, standing erect before his
enemy, and scanning him from top to toe. He was very quiet too; he
only said,--

"Captain Lovell, I claim a brother's right to protect Miss Coventry's
reputation, and as a brother I demand reparation for the wrong you
have done her; need I say any more?"

"Not another syllable," replied Frank Lovell carelessly. "Whenever you
like, only the sooner the better. Popham always acts for me on these
occasions; he don't go away till to-morrow afternoon, so I refer you
to him. I'm getting sleepy now, Mr. Jones. I wish you a good-night."

Cousin John took up his candle, and retired. Never in my life had I
been in such a position as this. That there would be a duel I had not
the slightest shadow of doubt--and all for my sake. That my gallant,
generous, true-hearted cousin should have behaved so nobly, so
unselfishly, did not surprise me; but that he should be sacrificed to
his devoted fidelity--I could not bear to think of it for a moment!
How I loved him now! How I wondered that I could ever have compared
the two for an instant! How I resolved to make him full amends, and,
come what might, to frustrate this projected duel! But what could I
do? In the first place, how was I to get out of the room?

My situation was so embarrassing, and at the same time so ridiculous,
that I could with difficulty resist a hysterical inclination to laugh.
Here I was, at all events, a close prisoner till Captain Lovell should
go to bed, and he seemed to have no idea of that rational proceeding,
though it was now past three o'clock. He walked about the room,
whistling softly. Once he came so near my hiding-place that I felt his
breath on my cheek. "Good heavens," thought I, "if he should take it
into his head to have a shower-bath now to brace his nerves!" At last
he walked to a drawer, selected a cigar, l