suppose I shall
have to get a lot of books for you to keep you amused--eh, Nell? even in
the honeymoon."

"We shall not have time to read very much if we are moving about all the
time."

"Not me, but you. I know what you'll do. You'll go and leave me planted,
and run up-stairs to read your book. I've seen the Jew do it with some
of her confounded novels that she's always wanting to turn over to me."

"But there are some novels that you would like to read, Phil."

"Not a bit. Why, Nell, I know far better stories of fellows in our own
set than any novel these writing men ever can put on paper: fellows, and
women, too--stories that would make your hair stand on end, and that
would make you die with laughing. You can't think what lots I know. That
cart would have been here by this time if it had been coming here, eh?"

"Oh, no, not yet--the road makes such a long round. Do you expect any
one, Phil?"

"I don't quite know; there's something on at that confounded office of
ours; everything, you know, has gone to smash. I didn't think it well to
say too much to the old lady last night. There's been a regular row, and
the manager's absconded, and all turns on whether they can find some
books. I shouldn't wonder if one of the fellows came down here, if they
find out where I am. I say, Nell, mind you back me up whatever I say."

"But I can't possibly know anything about it," said Elinor, astonished.

"Never mind--about dates and that--if you don't stand by me, there may
be a fuss, and the wedding delayed. Remember that, my pet, the wedding
delayed--that's what I want to avoid. Now, come, Nell, let's have
another go about the books. All English, mind you. I won't buy you any
of the French rot. They're too spicy for a little girl like you."

"I don't know what you mean, Phil. I hope you don't think that I read
nothing but novels," Elinor said.

"Nothing but novels! Oh, if you go in for mathematics and that sort of
thing, Nell! the novels are too deep for me. Don't say poetry, if you
love me. I could stand most things from you, Nell, you little
darling--but, Nell, if you come spouting verses all the time----"

His look of horror made Elinor laugh. "You need not be afraid. I never
spout verses," she said.

"Come along this way a little, where we can see the road. All women seem
to like poetry. There's a few fellows I don't mind myself. Ingoldsby,
now that's something fine. We had him at school, and perhaps it was the
con