-'Plato, thy confounded fantasies,' etc. You see, when people sit
up singing to each other alone till two in the morning--I don't mean
that Morris sings, he has no more voice than a crow; he does the
appreciative audience--well, other people will talk, won't they?"

"I suppose so, the world being what it is," sighed Mr. Fregelius.

"Exactly; the world being what it is, and men and women what they are, a
most unregenerate lot and 'au fond' very primitive, as I daresay you may
have observed."

"What is to be done?"

"Well, under other circumstances, I should have said, Nothing at all
except congratulate them most heartily, more especially my son. But in
this case there are reasons which make such a course impossible. As you
know, Morris is engaged to be married to my niece, Miss Porson, and it
is a contract which, even if he wished it, honour would forbid him to
break, for family as well as for personal reasons."

"Quite so, quite so; it is not to be thought of. But again I ask--What
is to be done?"

"Is that not rather a question for you to consider? I suggest that you
had better speak to your daughter; just a hint, you know, just a hint."

"Upon my word, I'd rather not. Stella can be so--decided--at times, and
we never seem quite to understand each other. I did speak to her the
other day when Mr. Layard wished to marry her, a match I was naturally
anxious for, but the results were not satisfactory."

"Still, I think you might try."

"Very well, I will try; and, Colonel Monk, I cannot tell you how grieved
I am to have brought all this trouble on you."

"Not a bit," answered the Colonel cheerfully. "I am an old student of
human nature, and I rather enjoy it; it's like watching the puppets on a
stage. Only we mustn't let the comedy grow into a tragedy."

"Ah! that's what I am afraid of, some tragedy. Stella is a woman who
takes things hard, and if any affection really has sprung up----"

"----It will no doubt evaporate with the usual hysterics and morning
headache. Bless me! I have known dozens of them, and felt some myself in
my time--the headaches, I mean, not the other things. Don't be alarmed
if she gets angry, Mr. Fregelius, but just appeal to her reason; she
will see the force of it afterwards."

An hour or so later the Colonel started for a walk on the beach to
look at some damage which a high tide had done to the cliff. As he
was nearing the Abbey steps on his return he saw the figure of a woman
stan