ht thing to force myself on a girl half my
age, who had already refused me once, and so we have gone on
misunderstanding all these years. Then I suppose trouble began? Her
people were not rich, but she had a comfortable home, so far as I knew."

"The parents died, and she was obliged to earn her own living. She has
been teaching music in London for the last fifteen years."

The General groaned.

"I know! I know! Dragging about in all weathers, to earn a few
shillings for hearing wretched brats strumming five-finger exercises.
Beg pardon, ma'am--I should not have said that to you! You have
children of your own."

"But I do not in the least envy their music-mistress!" cried Mrs
Trevor, smiling. "It is a hard, hard life, especially when it is a case
of going back to an Institution instead of a home. It is young Mrs
Vanburgh, Betty's friend, to whom you are really indebted for this
meeting. It was her idea to welcome lonely gentlewomen to her home, and
Miss Beveridge happened to be her first visitor."

"God bless her!" said the General reverently. He sat in silence for
some minutes, gazing dreamily before him, a puzzled look on the red
face. At last--"Now there's the question of the future to consider!" he
said anxiously. "I'm getting old--sixty-four next birthday, precious
near the allotted span of life, but she is twenty years younger--she may
have a long life before her still. It would break my heart to let her
go on working, but she'd be too proud to take money from me, unless--
unless-- Mrs Trevor, you are a sensible woman! I can trust you to give
me a candid answer. Would you consider me a madman if I asked the girl
a second time to marry me, old as I am, gouty as I am? Is it too late,
or can you imagine it possible that she might still care to take me in
hand?"

He looked across the room as he spoke with a pathetic eagerness in his
glance, and Mrs Trevor's answering smile was full of tenderness.

"Indeed I can! I should not think you a madman at all, General, for I
am old enough to know that the heart does not age with the body, and
that the happiness which comes late in life is sometimes the sweetest of
all. You are a hale man still, in spite of your gout, and with a wife
to care for you, you might renew your youth. I hope and believe that
all will go well this time, but let me advise you not to be in too great
a hurry. Twenty years is a long time, and you and Miss Beveridge have
led such