mmonplace
details which must be dealt with in one way or another.

"Of course, I may tell my own people, dearest, about our engagement?"
Tom said.

"I wonder what your mother will say?" answered Kate, laughing merrily.
"She will be awfully astonished."

"How about Girdlestone?" asked Tom.

The thought of the guardian had never occurred to either of them before.
They stared at each other, and Kate's face assumed such an expression of
dismay that her companion burst out laughing.

"Don't be frightened, darling," he said. "If you like, I'll go in and
'beard the lion in his den.' There is no time like the present."

"No, no, dear Tom," she cried eagerly. "You must not do that." It was
impossible for her to tell him how especially Girdlestone had cautioned
her against him, but she felt that it would never do to allow the two to
meet. "We must conceal our engagement from Mr. Girdlestone."

"Conceal our engagement!"

"Yes, Tom. He has warned me so often against anything of the sort, that
really I don't know what he would do if he knew about it. He would
certainly make it very uncomfortable for me to live with him. Remember
I am nearly twenty now, so in a little more than a year I shall be
entirely free. That is not very long."

"I don't know about that," Tom said doubtfully. "However, if you will
be more comfortable, of course that settles the question. It seems
rather hard, though, that we should have to conceal it, simply in order
to pacify this old bear."

"It's only for a time, Tom; and you may tell them at home by all means.
Now, good-bye, dear; they will see you from the windows if you come
nearer."

"Good-bye, my darling."

They shook hands and parted, he hurrying away with the glad tidings to
Phillimore Gardens, she tripping back to her captivity with the lightest
heart that she had felt for a weary time. Passers-by glanced back at
the bright little face under the bright little bonnet, and Ezra
Girdlestone, looking down at her from the drawing-room window, bethought
him that if the diamond speculation should fail it would be no hardship
to turn to his father's word.

CHAPTER XIV.

A SLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING.

The revelation of the real state of the firm's finances was a terrible
blow to Ezra Girdlestone. To a man of his overbearing, tempestuous
disposition failure and poverty were bitter things to face. He had been
wont to tread down before him all such little difficulties and obst