u can do as you please, of course, about her engagement; but you must
not expect her to look delighted over the delay."

The General put his hands on his knees and leaned forward mysteriously.

"Flossy," he said, "I don't wish to make you anxious, dear; but do you
think Hubert really cares for her?"

Flossy lowered her fan; there was a touch of angry color in her face.

"What are you going to say next, General? Why should Hubert have asked
Enid to marry him if he were not in love with her? He had, no doubt,
plenty of opportunities of asking other people."

"Yes--yes; but Enid is very sweet and very lovely, my dear. You don't
often see a more beautiful girl. I should not like her to marry a man
who was not attached to her."

Flossy controlled her anger, and spoke in a careless tone.

"What makes you take such fancies into your head, dear?"

"Well--more than one thing. To begin with, I found Enid wandering up and
down the conservatory just now, looking as pale as a ghost, with tears
in her eyes. I railed her a little, and asked her to tell me what was
the matter; but she would not say. And then I asked if it had anything
to do with Hubert, and whether she had heard from him lately; and, do
you know, Flossy, she has had no letter from him for a fortnight! Now,
in my day, although postage was dearer than it is now, we wouldn't have
waited a fortnight before writing to the woman that we loved."

"Hubert is a very busy man; he has not time for the writing of
love-letters," said Flossy slightly.

"He ought not to be too busy to make her happy."

"You forget too," said Mrs. Vane, "that Hubert has no private fortune.
He is working harder than ever just now--toiling with all his might and
main to gain a competency--not for his own, but for Enid's sake. Poor
boy, he is often harassed on all sides!" She drew a little sigh as if
she were sorrowing for him.

"I'm sure Enid does not harass him," said the General, getting up and
pacing about the room in a hurry; "she is sweetness itself! And, as to
money, why did he propose to her if he hadn't enough to keep her on? Of
course Enid will have a nice little fortune--he needn't doubt that; but
I shall tie it up pretty tightly when she marries, and settle it all
upon herself. You may tell him that from me if you like, with my
compliments!" The General was excited--he was hot and breathing hard.
"He must have an income to put against--that's all; he's not going to
live on his wi