arry at all, and she not
only raised no objection, but seemed relieved. Wilfrid Burton had come
down to stay at the Red House, during one of Algitha's holidays, and it
was then that the betrothal had taken place. The marriage promised to be
happy, for the couple were deeply attached and had interests in common.
They intended to continue to work on the same lines after they were
married. Both parents were favourably impressed by the son-in-law elect,
and the Cottage became the scene of exciting arguments on the subject of
socialism. Mr. Fullerton insisted on holding Wilfrid Burton responsible
for every sort of theory that had ever been attributed not merely to
socialists, but to communists, anarchists, collectivists, nihilists, and
the rest; and nothing would persuade him that the young man was not
guilty of all these contradictory enormities of thought. Wilfrid's
personality, however, overcame every prejudice against him, on this
account, after the first meeting.

Joseph Fleming, among others, congratulated Algitha heartily on her
engagement.

"I can see you are very happy," he said naively. She laughed and
coloured.

"Indeed I ought to be. Life is gloriously worth living, when it is lived
in the presence of good and generous souls."

"I wish _I_ had married," said Joseph pensively.

"It is not too late to mend," suggested Algitha.

"How reckless you are!" exclaimed her sister. "How can you recommend
marriage in the abstract? You happen to have met just the right person,
but Mr. Fleming hasn't, it would seem."

"If one person can be so fortunate, so can another," said Algitha.

"Why tempt Providence? Rather bear the ills you have----"

"I am surprised to hear you take a gloomy view of anything, Mrs.
Temperley," said Joseph; "I always thought you so cheerful. You say
funnier things than any lady I have ever met, except an Irish girl who
used to sing comic songs."

Both sisters laughed.

"How do you know that, in the intervals of her comic songs, that girl
has not a gloomy disposition?" asked Hadria.

"Oh no, you can see that she is without a care in the world; she is like
Miss Fullerton, always full of good cheer and kindness."

"Had she also slums to cheer her up?" asked Hadria.

"No, not at all. She never does anything in particular."

"I am surprised that she is cheerful then," said Algitha. "It won't
last."

"It is her slums that keep my sister in such good spirits," said Hadria.

"Really! Well,