The record-union., 1898-10-23
was in its infancy then-so was mar

was in its infancy then-so was mar
rage
| For my part" he continued, II dis
like anything as soon as it becomes a
duty. l used to like hunting; since
| they made me Master look forward to
the autumn as a parson looks forward
to sunday, and yet there was a time
/ when he doubtless loved going to
cnurch, when it was only permissible
| recreation. Supposing 1t were one OF
the Ten Commandments that We should
go TO ball every Monday and the
opera every Wednesday,"
| And you mean that you would dis
like the duty of being permanently in
| love with me-" said the young lady,
VINO perhaps found his remarks be-
coming too general, though as a tenn
porary sentimental excursion you have
not hitherto found it disagreeable?"
! What l find fault with is" he de-
clared, without very directly replying
to her question, that unless one were
| TO marry you one could not do several
Things one would like. For instance,
would like very much to take you to
India"
"When?" inquired the young lady,
with somewhat startling definiteness.
| NOT, he replied, IT'LL say, October.
India in the middle of the season you
would not enjoy a bit. But I really
rear (unless we do get marrieD the
| trip Is impossible. All the same I
should love to explain the Tai to you,
and Shah Aims mosque at Ahmeda-
pad-Oh and the Golden Gate at San
francisco; it is tiresome that 1 can
not take you there without marrying
YOU
you could take mamma as well, and
Aunt Adeliza, perhaps"
That would be different. A superior
plan for those to whom it commends
itself, but personally should not like
it so much"
Miss Greatorex laughed. Mr.. Mark
nam left his sequestered seat and took
one beside her on the little sofa
Were you thinking" asked the lady,
that you would like to take my
| hand?"
Il have thought that before I was
| thinking of taking it. Now, if we were
married, he continued after an inter
val, this would be my business. 1t
would be expected of ne, as it is of a
hen to lay eggs, or the Prince of Wales
to lay foundation-stones."
| And then it would cease to please?"
| 1T would then become detestable.
And often lately I have pictured my
self as riding home in the deepening
dusk of winters afternoon from
| hunting, either with you by my side or
to find you waiting for me at home.
When I think of it 1 nearly take a
hanson and come here to lay myself at
your feet
why don't your"
| For the reasons detailed above
picture being refused and the subse-
quent discomfort and Inconvenience It
would entail an entire change Of all
my plans for the rest of the season."
| But If you were not refused?"
| Mr.. Markham started
"Oh, that certainly struck me as an
alternative, but I did not find it less
| alarming. If I were accepted we
should proba bly, get married.; and how
dull for us both it would subsequently
bel What 1 should really like would
| be for you to come and stay just in
our present capacity at Markham, say,
for year. You would walk with me,
row with me, fish with me, hunt with
me; I would read to you my favorite
| bits Of my favorite authors, and you
should retaliate with yours. I can
| imagine nothing so delightful I have
already had you to stay at Markham;
but then Lady Greatorex and Sir Mar
| maduke came, too, and my sister came
down to do hostess. We were never
alone except now and then for quar-
| ter Of an hour after an hour Of mutual
endeavoring."
Thank you" interjected, with some
asperity, the lady.
What should like would be to have
you thus for time all to myself. You
| would find me much nicer than you
imagine I have much more to- me,
as the Yankees say, than you would
think
You are not, in fact, such a fool as
you look?"
(Mr. Markham took no notice what
ever of this frivolous interruption)
We'll" added the lady, ION one con-
dition l will come. Do not look fright
ened; l don't mean to insist on prior
enga cement You need not promise to
marry me. But will come for a whole
year to Markham Tiff I may bring
Lord Mendip with me-
Lord Mendip!" Mr.. Markham re-
leased what he had been holding and
laid it back in the young lady's lap
with something of the air WhereWith
one puts down again upon the counter
an article that one has been lingering
in a saleroom when one discovers 1t is
marked Sold" He resumed his posi-
ton on the hearth rug, but without
again accommodating his back to the
mantelpiece. 1T was he remarked
presently, very nice of you to inform
me of your engagement in that way.
You can do things, when you try, very
gracefully. A more awkward woman
might have told me fatty half an hour
ago."
Il was going to tell you just now. But
you begged me to wait. as you wished
to finish your delightful conversation. l
concluded that you thought you were
shining. After all you do not affect
to ignore your reputation as a conversa-
tionalst."
Il am sure" he said, after the brief
est possible pause, you will be ex-
tremely happy. That is certainly my
wsh-that you may be as happy as you |
deserve. Lord Mendip's happiness, of |
course, goes without saying. 1t is in |
teresting to think that he was my |
grandfather's flag at Eton."
He told me it was your great grand |
father"
All! I think he was mistaken. My |
at-grandfather died quite two years
before Lord Mendip was born, and he |
was not at Elton. Where there is any |
disparity of years.
Between Lord Mendip and myself |