t is best for
all parties, my dear Mr Lorton, should be at once forgotten! You'll
agree with me, I'm sure?"

And she looked at me with a steady gaze of determination and set purpose
in her eyes, before which I quailed.

"You will agree with me, I'm sure, Mr Lorton,"--she repeated again,
after a pause, as I was so bewildered by her flank attack that I could
not get out a word at first. I declare to you, I only sat looking at
her in hopeless dismay, powerless--idiotic, in fact!

"But I love Min, Mrs Clyde,"--I stammered--"and she has promised--"

"Dear me! This is quite delicious," laughed Mrs Clyde--a cold sneering
laugh, which made me shiver as if cold water were running down my
back--"quite a comedy, I do declare, Mr Lorton. I did not think you
were so good an actor. Love! Ha, ha, ha!" and she gave forth a merry
peal--to my intense enjoyment, you may be sure.

Oh, yes! I enjoyed it, without doubt:--it was dreadfully comical!

"It is no laughing matter to me, Mrs Clyde," I replied at last,
emboldened by her ridicule--"I love Min; and she has promised to marry
me, if you will only give your consent, which I have come to ask to-
day."

I got up as I spoke, and faced her.

I was prepared to do battle till the death. Desperation had now made me
brave.

"Now, _do_ let us be serious," said the lady, presently.

She apparently found it difficult to stifle her laughter at the humour
of the whole thing:--it was really such a very good joke!

"I _am_ serious, Mrs Clyde," I said, half-petulantly, although I tried
to be impressive. I was solemn enough over it all; but, my temper has
always been, unfortunately for me, too easily provoked.

"I never heard of such a thing in my life," she continued, taking no
notice, apparently, either of me or of my answer. "Fancy, any sane
person talking of love and marriage between a boy and girl like that!
You must be joking, Mr Lorton. Really, it is too absurd to be
credible!" and she affected a laugh again, in her provoking way.

A capital joke, wasn't it?

"I am not joking, I assure you, Mrs Clyde," I answered sturdily,
endeavouring, vainly, to bear down her raillery by my gravity. "I was
never more serious in my life. I'm not a boy, Mrs Clyde; and I'm sure
Min is old enough to know her own mind, too!"

This was an impertinent addendum on my part; and, my opponent quickly
retorted, with a thrust, which recalled my good manners.

"You are very good to say so, Mr