if he were scarcely conscious of a listener.

'But haven't you reckless moments, captain?--when you have taken a
little more wine than usual, for instance?'

'I don't take wine.'

'O, you are a teetotaller?'

'Not a pledged one--but I don't touch alcohol unless I get wet, or
anything of that sort.'

'Don't you sometimes forget this vow of yours to my mother?'

'No, I wear a reminder.'

'What is that like?'

De Stancy held up his left hand, on the third finger of which appeared
an iron ring.

Dare surveyed it, saying, 'Yes, I have seen that before, though I never
knew why you wore it. Well, I wear a reminder also, but of a different
sort.'

He threw open his shirt-front, and revealed tattooed on his breast the
letters DE STANCY; the same marks which Havill had seen in the bedroom
by the light of the moon.

The captain rather winced at the sight. 'Well, well,' he said hastily,
'that's enough.... Now, at any rate, you understand my objection to know
Miss Power.'

'But, captain,' said the lad coaxingly, as he fastened his shirt;
'you forget me and the good you may do me by marrying? Surely that's a
sufficient reason for a change of sentiment. This inexperienced sweet
creature owns the castle and estate which bears your name, even to the
furniture and pictures. She is the possessor of at least forty thousand
a year--how much more I cannot say--while, buried here in Outer Wessex,
she lives at the rate of twelve hundred in her simplicity.'

'It is very good of you to set this before me. But I prefer to go on as
I am going.'

'Well, I won't bore you any more with her to-day. A monk in
regimentals!--'tis strange.' Dare arose and was about to open the door,
when, looking through the window, Captain De Stancy said, 'Stop.' He
had perceived his father, Sir William De Stancy, walking among the
tombstones without.

'Yes, indeed,' said Dare, turning the key in the door. 'It would look
strange if he were to find us here.'

As the old man seemed indisposed to leave the churchyard just yet they
sat down again.

'What a capital card-table this green cloth would make,' said Dare, as
they waited. 'You play, captain, I suppose?'

'Very seldom.'

'The same with me. But as I enjoy a hand of cards with a friend, I don't
go unprovided.' Saying which, Dare drew a pack from the tail of his
coat. 'Shall we while away this leisure with the witching things?'

'Really, I'd rather not.'

'But,' coaxed the young man, 'I am