hole
affair is so sudden--and to tell you the truth, I thought that Ida had
bestowed her affections in another direction."

Edward's face darkened. "I thought so too," he answered, "until
yesterday, when I was so happy as to be undeceived. I ought to tell
you, by the way," he went on, running away from the covert falsehood
in his last words as quickly as he could, "how much I regret I was the
cause of that scene with Colonel Quaritch, more especially as I find
that there is an explanation of the story against him. The fact is, I
was foolish enough to be vexed because he beat me out shooting, and
also because, well I--I was jealous of him."

"Ah, yes," said the Squire, rather coldly, "a most unfortunate affair.
Of course, I don't know what the particulars of the matter were, and
it is no business of mine, but speaking generally, I should say never
bring an accusation of that sort against a man at all unless you are
driven to it, and if you do bring it be quite certain of your ground.
However, that is neither here nor there. Well, about this engagement.
Ida is old enough to judge for herself, and seems to have made up her
mind, so as I know no reason to the contrary, and as the business
arrangements proposed are all that I could wish, I cannot see that I
have any ground for withholding my consent. So all I can say, sir, is
that I hope you will make my daughter a good husband, and that you
will both be happy. Ida is a high-spirited woman; but in my opinion
she is greatly above the average of her sex, as I have known it, and
provided you have her affection, and don't attempt to drive her, she
will go through thick and thin for you. But I dare say you would like
to see her. Oh, by the way, I forgot, she has got a headache this
morning, and is stopping in bed. It isn't much in her line, but I
daresay that she is a little upset. Perhaps you would like to come up
to dinner to-night?"

This proposition Edward, knowing full well that Ida's headache was a
device to rid herself of the necessity of seeing him, accepted with
gratitude and went.

As soon as he had gone, Ida herself came down.

"Well, my dear," said the Squire cheerfully, "I have just had the
pleasure of seeing Edward Cossey, and I have told him that, as you
seemed to wish it----"

Here Ida made a movement of impatience, but remembered herself and
said nothing.

"That as you seemed to wish that things should be so, I had no ground
of objection to your engagem