st of his days. And remember," he added, as he held her a little from
him, and looked into her blushing face with pretended severity, "you
shall never come under my roof again if you disobey me! Come, I will
give you to him myself."

And they found Tournier awaiting the verdict without the slightest degree
of suspense.

"I have brought you your wife," Cosin cried.

What followed may well be imagined by all but ill-natured people, who see
no chance of their ever being placed in a similar predicament themselves.

In the course of the evening, Cosin suddenly said with great gravity,
amounting almost to solemnity, and looking first at Tournier, and then at
Alice: "There is a matter that still remains to be settled. You have run
away, Tournier, with my wife, and it is only fit and right that you
should make what compensation is in your power."

Both the others were taken rather aback, especially as Cosin continued to
seem very much in earnest.

"There must be a marriage-settlement of some sort."

"Assuredly," Tournier replied, relieved, but still somewhat puzzled.

"Whatever you think right, I shall be delighted to do."

"Do you really mean that?" said Cosin, still very seriously.

"Indeed I do. Everything I possess I would joyfully give to my sweet
love," looking at her with intense affection. "She is worth more than
all I have beside."

"But I want more than money and lands," persisted Cosin. "Mind, you have
agreed to do whatever I may propose."

"Yes. Anything you require. I trust you as my own soul."

"Then the marriage-settlement must be this: That so long as we all three
live, you two shall come and spend a good part of the summer with me
every year, and that you will let me spend a good part of every winter
with you in your sunny home. Provided always--here comes the lawyer--that
if we do at any time wish to turn summer into winter, or winter into
summer, we may do so by mutual agreement."

"Could anything be better!" cried the others in great delight. "Agreed,
agreed."

Then Cosin, no longer able to look grave, laughingly exclaimed, "Signed,
sealed, and delivered."

A few weeks after, Captain Tournier went over to France to prepare his
house for the reception of his bride. He did not stop long, but returned
with a heart full of gratitude to God, and joyful expectation of a happy
future.

They were married in Yaxley Church in the presence of a crowded
congregation. More than half the p