safely on the ground. Was it not near being a tragedy? Afterwards he was even condescending enough to tighten the girths himself, though Billy was well able, and to speed us on our homeward journey. Was it not well he was there?""Very well, indeed. And was that all you saw of him?""Oh, dear, no; we became great friends after that. I found him wonderfully good-natured and kind."As I speak I am ignorant of the fact that Sir Mark has the reputation of being the fastest man about town. "I have no doubt you did," says my betrothed, sarcastically. "And where did you meet him again?""At a bazaar, a week later. He got Mrs. Leslie, with whom he was staying, to introduce him to me. And then he called with the Leslies, and I think took a fancy to Dora, as he was continually coming to Summerleas after that. Not that he ever came to the point, you know; he did not propose to her or that; which disappointed us all very much, as Mrs. Leslie told mamma he was enormously rich and a good match.""You seem to think a great deal of a good match," says Marmaduke, very bitterly. "Are you so extremely fond of money?""Awfully," I say, with charming candor. "What can there be better than a lot of it? I shall have plenty when I marry you, Marmaduke, shall I not?""As much as ever you want," replies he; but there is no warmth in his tones."Don't make rash promises. Perhaps I shall want ever so much. Do you know I never had more than two pounds all together at a time in my life, and that only once? My godfather gave it to me the year before last, and it took Billy and me a whole week to decide how we should spend it.""Well?" absently."Well"--utterly unabashed--"finally we divided it into four half-sovereigns. With one we bought a present for mother, and were going to do the same for Dora, only she said she would rather have the money itself than anything we would select. Then Billy bought a puppy he had been longing for for a month with the third, besides a lot of white rats--odious little things with no hair on their tails--and a squirrel; and--and that's all," I wind up abruptly."What did you do with the other half-sovereign? asks 'Duke, more from want of something to say than from any overpowering curiosity."Oh, nothing--nothing," I answer, feeling slightly confused, I don't know why. "I cannot remember, it is so long ago.""Only the year before last, by your own account, and I know your memory to be excellent. Come, tell me what you did with it."As he grows obstinate, so do I, and therefore answer with gay evasion."What would I do with it but one thing? Of course I bought a present for my sweetheart."Surely some capricious spirit inhabits this room. For the second
time since we entered it Marmaduke's countenance lowers."Why, what is the matter now?" I ask, impatiently. "What are 

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