s. Fiddlesticks, I tell her! We can buy the finest
dress in London in half an hour's time, or my name's not Terence Digby.
Then she talks about pupils. Pack of rubbish, I tell her! There are
fifty women in London wanting to give lessons, for every pupil who wants
to learn. Let someone else hear the `nid, nid, nodding' for a change!"
(This last was a dark reference to the Scotch air with which poor Pam
had been wrestling for weeks past.) "`A June wedding!' Always said I'd
be married in June if I had the chance, and it's a poor thing if I can't
have my way after waiting twenty years. Don't like July--nasty,
treacherous month! Best way to spend it is a honeymoon in the country.
What? You'll tell the boys and girls, eh? Tell them after we've gone.
Too bashful to stand the racket to-night! Besides, there's Johnson to
face. Bit of a pill to face Johnson. What? Don't know what he'll say
to a mistress, but it will be all right when he sees Alice. Alice will
get over him fast enough!"

It was charming to see the look of proud admiration which he cast at his
_fiancee_; charming to see her changed and softened mien; charming to
see the smile of complete and happy confidence which was exchanged
between the two. For the first time for many days the weight of
depression lifted from Mrs Trevor's heart, and she forgot Miles'
departure in rejoicing in their joy. Her face had its old bright look
as she re-entered the study to tell the news to her children, who, truth
to tell, were not too sympathetic in their reception.

The three elders were, of course, more or less prepared for the
announcement, but Pam gasped in shocked surprise.

"_Married_!" she cried shrilly. "But they are so old! What's the good
of being married, and having all the bother for nothing? They'll be
dead so soon!"

"It's an awful fag. It won't be half so much sport going to tea,"
commented Jill with outspoken selfishness, while Jack shrugged his
shoulders and grimaced disapproval.

"Got everything he wants--rattling good food, all his relics and things
around him, and Johnson to save all bother. Can't think why he couldn't
be satisfied!"

Only Betty was silent, her heart warming with a tender sympathy over the
story of an old and loyal love. Miss Beveridge was quite, quite old,
over forty, and her hair was grey, yet the General called her a girl,
and thought her beautiful still. Somehow the thought had a direct
personal comfort. Other p