im."

Tom stopped in his pacing again: and it was then that I entreated him to
sit down and talk like a Christian. He did so, without a word.

"In France, I suppose?" he said immediately after.

"Why, yes."

Tom looked at me again.

"And you travel with four men now, instead of one."

"I find it more convenient," I said.

"And more expensive too," he observed.

"Why, yes: a little more expensive, too," I answered. But I was a shade
uneasy; because this increase of servants was at His Majesty's desire
and cost. I made haste to turn the conversation back once more. I did
not wish Tom to think that I was of any importance at all.

"Well; but what of Dolly?" I said.

It was then that my Cousin suddenly came down from his loftiness. He
seemed to awake out of a little reverie.

"You come into the enjoyment of your property," he said, "in four years
from now?"

"In less than that," I said. "It is three years and a half. My birthday
is in June."

He asked me one or two more questions then as to its amount, and what
arrangements I would make in the event of my marriage. When I had
satisfied him upon these matters, he fell again into a reverie.

"Well?" said I, a little sharply.

"Cousin," he said, "I do not wish to stand in your way. But there must
be no talk of marriage till '85. Will that content you?"

It did not in the least; but it was what I had expected. I was scarcely
rich enough yet to support a wife, and knew that, well enough; for if I
married and left the King's service there would be no more travelling
expenses for me. Dolly and I last night had agreed upon that as the
least that we could consent to.

"Four years is a long time," said I.

"You said three and a half just now," he observed a little bitterly.

"Well: three and a half. I suppose I must take that, if I can get
nothing better."

* * * * *

Now I was secretly a little astonished that my Cousin Tom had consented
so quickly, after his recent ambitions. Plainly he had aimed higher than
at my poor standard during those months; for when a maid went to Court
as one of the Queen's ladies the least that was expected of her was that
she would marry a pretty rich man. But the reason of it all was
unpleasantly evident to me. He must have gathered from what I had said
and done that my favour was increasing with the King; and therefore he
must have argued too that I must be serving His Majesty in some very
part