ry to have to talk of business, but this
is a business matter, is it not? I suppose it is understood that, in
the event of our marriage, the mortgage you hold over this place will
not be enforced against my father."

"Of course not," he answered. "Look here, Ida, I will give you those
mortgage bonds as a wedding present, and you can put them in the fire;
and I will make a good settlement on you."

"Thank you," she said, "but I do not require any settlement on myself;
I had rather none was made; but I consent to the engagement only on
the express condition that the mortgages shall be cancelled before
marriage, and as the property will ultimately come to me, this is not
much to ask. And now one more thing, Mr. Cossey; I should like to know
when you would wish this marriage to take place; not yet, I presume?"

"I could wish it to take place to-morrow," he said with an attempt at
a laugh; "but I suppose that between one thing and another it can't
come off at once. Shall we say this time six months, that will be in
May?"

"Very good," said Ida; "this day six months I shall be prepared to
become your wife, Mr. Cossey. I believe," she added with a flash of
bitter sarcasm, "it is the time usually allowed for the redemption of
a mortgage."

"You say very hard things," he answered, wincing.

"Do I? I daresay. I am hard by nature. I wonder that you can wish to
marry me."

"I wish it beyond everything in the world," he answered earnestly.
"You can never know how much. By the way, I know I was foolish about
Colonel Quaritch; but, Ida, I cannot bear to see that man near you. I
hope that you will now drop his acquaintance as much as possible."

Once more Ida's face set like a flint. "I am not your wife yet, Mr.
Cossey," she said; "when I am you will have a right to dictate to me
as to whom I shall associate with. At present you have no such right,
and if it pleases me to associate with Colonel Quaritch, I shall do
so. If you disapprove of my conduct, the remedy is simple--you can
break off the engagement."

He rose absolutely crushed, for Ida was by far the stronger of the
two, and besides, his passion gave her an unfair advantage over him.
Without attempting a reply he held out his hand and said good-night,
for he was afraid to venture on any demonstration of affection, adding
that he would come to see her father in the morning.

She touched his outstretched hand with her fingers, and then fearing
lest he should change h