me, speak plainly, if you please! I cannot follow
your meaning. In what respect are you a claimant for my generosity?"

"In respect of what is the most important question of my life," replied
Mr Newcome, recovering his self-possession at last, and looking her
full in the face, in what she was obliged to confess was a very manly
fashion--"In respect to my love for your ward, Miss Bertrand, and my
desire to have your consent to our engagement, to ratify her own
promise."

"Her own promise! Your engagement! Lettice? Do you mean to tell me
that you have proposed to Lettice and that she has accepted you?"

"I am happy to say that is my meaning. I had intended to consult you in
the first instance, but yesterday, on the river, we were together, and
I--I--"

He stopped short with a smile of tender recollection, and Miss Carr sat
gazing at him in consternation.

Arthur Newcome had proposed to Lettice, and Lettice had accepted him.
The thing was incomprehensible! The girl had showed not the slightest
signs of preference, had seemed as gay and heart-whole as a child. Only
a fortnight before she had convulsed Miss Carr with laughter by putting
on Mr Rayner's top-coat, and paying an afternoon call, _a la_ Arthur
Newcome, when all that young gentleman's ponderous proprieties had been
mimicked with merciless fidelity. And she had actually promised to
marry him!

"I--excuse me--but are you quite sure that you understood Lettice
aright? Are you sure you are not mistaken?"

Mr Newcome smiled with happy certainty.

"Quite sure, Miss Carr. I can understand your surprise, for I find it
difficult to believe in my own good fortune. Lettice is the sweetest,
most beautiful, and most charming girl in the world. I am not worthy of
her notice, but there is nothing that I would not do to ensure her
happiness. She is all the world to me. I have loved her from the day
we first meet."

He was in earnest--horribly in earnest! His voice quivered with
emotion, his eyes were shining, and his face, which was usually
immovable, was radiant with happiness. Miss Carr looked at him, and her
heart fell. If the mere thought of Lettice could alter the man in this
manner, she could imagine the transformation which must have passed over
him as he spoke to the girl herself, among the trees and flowers on the
river-bank; and, alas for Lettice! she could imagine also how easily
gratified vanity might have been mistaken for reciprocal love.