f it had been four days it need have made no difference. A home, with
some one to support her, is everything to her. If you wait till lots of
fellows are buzzing around her you won't have a chance. You'll find that
by this time next year she'll be the top of the fashion; and if not
engaged to you, she will be to some one else. I shouldn't be surprised
if Harry were after her again."

"He's engaged to that girl we saw down at Clavering."

"What of that? Engagements can be broken as well as made. You have this
great advantage over every one, except him, that you can go to her at
once without doing anything out of the way. That girl that Harry has in
tow may perhaps keep him away for some time."

"I tell you what, Hugh, you might as well call with me the first time."

"So that I may quarrel with her, which I certainly should do--or,
rather, she with me. No, Archie; if you're afraid to go alone, you'd
better give it up."

"Afraid! I'm not afraid!"

"She can't eat you. Remember that with her you needn't stand on your p's
and q's, as you would with another woman. She knows what she is about,
and will understand what she has to get as well as what she is expected
to give. All I can say is, that if she accepts you, Hermy will consent
that she shall go to Clavering as much as she pleases till the marriage
takes place. It couldn't be done, I suppose, till after a year; and in
that case she shall be married at Clavering."

Here was a prospect for Julia Brabazon--to be led to the same altar, at
which she had married Lord Ongar, by Archie Clavering, twelve month's
after her first husband's death, and little more than two years after
her first wedding! The peculiarity of the position did not quite make
itself apparent either to Hugh or to Archie; but there was one point
which did suggest itself to the younger brother at that moment.

"I don't suppose there was anything really wrong, eh?"

"Can't say, I'm sure," said Sir Hugh.

"Because I shouldn't like--"

"If I were you I wouldn't trouble myself about that. Judge not, that you
be not judged."

"Yes, that's true, to be sure," said Archie; and on that point he went
forth satisfied.

Chapter XIX

Let Her Know That You're There

The job before him, in his attempt to win Lady Ongar, was a peculiar
job, and that Archie well knew. In some inexplicable manner he put
himself into the scales and weighed himself, and discovered his own
weight with fair accuracy. An