y this into practice, sir, one preliminary is required--unless
harm of another kind is to be faced. Mimi should have some protector
whom all the world would recognise. The only form recognised by
convention is marriage!"

Sir Nathaniel smiled in a fatherly way.

"To marry, a husband is required. And that husband should be you."

"Yes, yes."

"And the marriage should be immediate and secret--or, at least, not
spoken of outside ourselves. Would the young lady be agreeable to that
proceeding?"

"I do not know, sir!"

"Then how are we to proceed?"

"I suppose that we--or one of us--must ask her."

"Is this a sudden idea, Adam, a sudden resolution?"

"A sudden resolution, sir, but not a sudden idea. If she agrees, all is
well and good. The sequence is obvious."

"And it is to be kept a secret amongst ourselves?"

"I want no secret, sir, except for Mimi's good. For myself, I should
like to shout it from the house-tops! But we must be discreet; untimely
knowledge to our enemy might work incalculable harm."

"And how would you suggest, Adam, that we could combine the momentous
question with secrecy?"

Adam grew red and moved uneasily.

"Someone must ask her--as soon as possible!"

"And that someone?"

"I thought that you, sir, would be so good!"

"God bless my soul! This is a new kind of duty to take on--at my time of
life. Adam, I hope you know that you can count on me to help in any way
I can!"

"I have already counted on you, sir, when I ventured to make such a
suggestion. I can only ask," he added, "that you will be more than ever
kind to me--to us--and look on the painful duty as a voluntary act of
grace, prompted by kindness and affection."

"Painful duty!"

"Yes," said Adam boldly. "Painful to you, though to me it would be all
joyful."

"It is a strange job for an early morning! Well, we all live and learn.
I suppose the sooner I go the better. You had better write a line for me
to take with me. For, you see, this is to be a somewhat unusual
transaction, and it may be embarrassing to the lady, even to myself. So
we ought to have some sort of warrant, something to show that we have
been mindful of her feelings. It will not do to take acquiescence for
granted--although we act for her good."

"Sir Nathaniel, you are a true friend; I am sure that both Mimi and I
shall be grateful to you for all our lives--however long they may be!"

So the two talked it over and agreed as to po