"So am I, so am I," replied Braddock, nodding. "As you very truly
observed, my child, the house would have gone to rack and ruin without
a woman to look after my interests. Well," he took the arms of the two
young people, "I really think that we must have a bottle of champagne on
the strength of it."

Shortly the trio were seated at the table, and Braddock explained that
Mrs. Jasher, being overcome by his proposal, had not been able to face
the ordeal of congratulations.

"But she will come to-morrow," said he, as Cockatoo filled three
glasses.

"Indeed, I shall congratulate her to-night," said Lucy obstinately. "As
soon as dinner is over, I shall go with Archie to her house, and tell
her how pleased I am."

"It is very cold for you to be out, Lucy dear," urged Archie anxiously.

"Oh, I can wrap up warmly," she answered.

Strange to say, the Professor made no objection to the excursion,
although Hope quite expected such a stickler for etiquette to refuse
permission to his step-daughter. But Braddock seemed rather pleased
than otherwise. His proposal of marriage seemed to have put him into
excellent humor, and he raised his glass with a chuckle.

"I drink to your happiness, my dear Lucy, and to that of Mrs. Jasher's."

"And I drink to Archie's and to yours, father," she replied. "I am glad
that you will not be lonely when we are married. Archie and I wish to
become one in January."

"Yes," said Hope, finishing his champagne, "my income is now all right,
as my uncle has paid up."

"Very good, very good. I make no objection," said Braddock placidly. "I
will give you a handsome wedding present, Lucy, for you may have heard
that my future wife has money left to her by her brother, who was lately
a merchant in Pekin. She is heart and hand with me in our proposed
expedition to Egypt."

"Will you go there for the honeymoon, sir?" asked Hope.

"Not exactly for the honeymoon, since we are to be married in spring,
and my expedition to the tomb of Queen Tahoser cannot start until the
late autumn. But Mrs. Braddock will come with me. That is only just,
since it will be her money which will furnish the sinews of war."

"Well, everything is arranged very well," said Lucy. "I marry Archie;
you, father, make Mrs. Jasher your wife; and I suspect Sir Frank will
marry Donna Inez."

"Ha!" said Braddock with a start, "the daughter of De Gayangos, who has
come here for the missing mummy. Mrs. Jasher told me somewhat of tha