rtin and Mrs. Howland were driven swiftly in the direction
of Hyde Park. London society people were fast going out of town, for
it was very nearly the end of July; but still there were a few
carriages about, and some fine horses, and some gaily dressed ladies
and several smart-looking men. Martin provided a couple of chairs for
himself and his future wife, and they sat for some little time
enjoying the fresh air and looking on at the gay scene.

"It is wonderful," said Martin, "what a sight of money is wasted in
this sort of thing."

"But they enjoy it, don't they?" said Mrs. Howland.

"Yes, my pet," he replied, "but not as you and me will enjoy Laburnum
Villa. And now, Little-sing, can you attend to business?"

"I have a very weak head for business, Bo-peep," was the reply.

"Don't I know it, my pet; and I am the last person on earth to allow
you to be worried; but I tell you what it is, Victory, if your head is
weak as regards money matters, your girl has a topping good brain in
that direction. Now, I have a notion in my head about her."

"You can't do anything with her," said Mrs. Howland; "she is quite
impossible. I never thought she would treat you as she did. I could
weep when I think of it. I shouldn't be surprised if, on account of
her rudeness and ingratitude, we broke off the engagement. I shouldn't
really, James."

"What do you take me for?" said James. "It isn't the girl I want to
marry! it's you."

"Oh dear!" said Mrs. Howland; "of course, I know."

"She ain't a patch on you, Little-sing--that is, I mean as regards
looks. But now, don't you fret. If you have been turning things over
in your mind, so have I been turning things over in my mind, and the
sum and substance of it all is that I believe that girl's right after
all."

"Right after all! But dear, dear James, the child can't live on
nothing!"

"Who said she was to live on nothing?" said Martin. "Don't tremble,
Little-sing; it's more than I can stand. I have been thinking that a
sharp young miss like that wants a bit more training. She wants
breaking in. Now, I've no mind to the job. I can manage my
shop-people--not one of them can come round me, I can tell you--but a
miss like your daughter, brought up altogether, I will say, above her
station, is beyond me. What I have been turning over in my mind is
this, that a year or two's training longer will do her no sort of
harm."

"Oh!" said Mrs. Howland. She was trembling exceedingly.

"I