sia and Austria? And Russia,
with her countless hordes of men, would crush Austria?"

"That wouldn't suit Germany's book," was Bob's reply. "You see, there
is a close alliance between Austria and Germany, and Germany wouldn't
allow Austria to be put under."

"Oh, it would be horrible!" gasped the girl. "But there, we won't talk
about it any more. It can't affect us, can it? England has nothing to
do with Servians murdering an Austrian Archduke. I'm awfully sorry for
the poor old Austrian Emperor, but--but----"

"It can't affect us, or our happiness," cried Bob, taking her
outstretched hand. "No, thank God! but I say, Nancy, this is an awful
commentary on what we were saying just now, isn't it? It makes me more
than ever determined to throw myself into a movement that shall make
war impossible. But oh, my dear girl, I do wish you'd let me speak to
your father to-night! I want my happiness assured. I want everybody
to know that I've won you--that you've promised to be my wife."

A thoughtful look came into her eyes. It might seem as though she were
fighting a battle between inclination and judgment.

"No, Bob," she said at length, "it won't do. I'm sure dad wouldn't
consent. The truth is----" she hesitated.

"What?" asked Bob eagerly.

"Dad's awfully fond of Captain Trevanion. I--I believe he's set his
mind on it."

"On what? On your marrying him!"

"Now, don't be jealous."

"I'm not jealous. How could I be when"--he held her to him, and kissed
her passionately--"when you've told me you love me."

"He'll be terribly mad when he knows at first. You see, he's always
looked on you as a--well, to put it mildly, a useless bookworm. And he
likes Hector Trevanion because, although he's a fool in many things,
he's a good soldier. He says he's very young for a captain, and with
his name and prospects--he'll be sure to be a major and afterwards a
colonel in a very short time, especially if a war breaks out. And--and
he's very ambitious for me. That's why I shall have to break it to him
by degrees. I shall begin by talking about your successes at Oxford,
and then I shall tell him that you are going to study for the Bar, as a
preliminary to going into Parliament. You are so clever, that you
won't be long before you are called to the Bar, will you?"

"I'll do it in record time," cried Bob. "There are a number of dinners
to eat, and certain examinations to pass; but I can manage them all
right.