"Men like Charley Willis do nothing for nothing," replied Lady Kingclerq decisively.

This was not the first time that the brown lady had lifted up her voice in admonition upon this subject, but it was the first time that Mary had repelled her fears so warmly.

A wiser remonstrant would have been less satisfied with the reply.

169

CHAPTER XI.

PROPOSALS.

ROSEY, Lady Kingclerq, was not a wise woman— only a good-hearted one, gifted with a full measure of womanly tact. If it had been possible to put Mary at her ease, Rosey would have done so. And really the brown-eyed one was sincere when she exclaimed, as she often did, "Oh you dear clever thing! How did I ever get on without you!" For the corner house had fallen into some disorder. The cook and the tradesmen had entered into an alliance offensive and defensive against its inexperienced mistress, who was credited with a consumption of provisions of all sorts which would have victualled a small ship's company. Mary's shrewd head and tasty hands soon set things to rights, much to the confusion of the enemy, and for the time she was not more unhappy than her father's wretched condition naturally caused her to be. But could such a state of things last? In a few months at latest Sir Maynard Kingclerq would be in England, and the pleasant fiction invented by his wife that it was proper for her to have a

companion would collapse. What was then to become of them—of the bread-winner who could work no more, and of the child who could not leave his side to work for him? Then there was "little Frank," now a full-blown Second Lieutenant of Marine Light Infantry, afloat (luckily) with the fleet at Halifax-what was to become of him? Afloat he could perhaps live on his pay, but ashore the allowance hitherto made by his father was indispensable. He must resign his commission and become a clerk or something-mourned his sister. And the poor boy loved his profession, and was a good soldier-so wrote his captain-already.

Lady Kingclerq (whose ideas of poverty were not more advanced than those of the French princess who asked why the people did not eat buns if they could not get bread) could not understand her friend's fears and repinings; she had, moreover, made up her mind that Tom Somers was to propose, be accepted, get a fat rectory, and make Mary Mrs. Bishop in time. She had a high opinion of Tom, and it was a pity that this regard was not reciprocated, for they were both good in their way. My lady was pleased when Tom fulfilled his promise, and came to see them. "I am sure, dear, he wrote you the kindest letter," she replied to a toss of Mary's head, when his name was mentioned soon after they had taken their quarters in the corner house.

up

"Yes, he wrote a nice letter, but Captain Willis came. I shall never forget that," retorted Mary.

"He had nothing else to do," pleaded the counsel for the absent. "How do you know that Tom could come? He is not his own master."

"He could have come if he had liked.

"I would not give his little finger for ten Captain Willises."

"That's your opinion-now," said Mary rather spitefully. "I speak of people as I find them, and Captain Willis has been very kind to-to us."

"Too kind," retorted my lady, determined to have the last word. And she had it, so far as Mary was concerned, but she came back to the charge.

It was a few days after Tom's arrival. Mary had gone out for something her father required, and Willis found the brown lady alone in the drawing-room, out of which the " den " before mentioned opened. They talked for a while on things in general, and then came a pause. The captain had been watching the door, as Rosey thought impatiently. This irritated her, and she broke out with:

"Don't you think it's time to go back to your friends in the country?"

"Why?"

"It is possible that one of them may grow jealous." "Of you, Lady Kingclerq?"

"No, Captain Willis; you know as well as I do what I mean. It is just like you, trying to make one girl unhappy, and you all but engaged to another !"

"Ah, I see. Mr. Somers has been talking."

"Mr. Somers has said nothing about you that is not to your credit. It would be a very good thing for you if others talked, as you call it, of you as kindly as poor Tom does."

Meaning, I presume, yourself?"

66 'Exactly. Oh, I won't mince matters now I have begun. I've told Mary all about you."

"And Mary-I beg your pardon-I should say, what does Miss Tarrant think?"

"I am not going to tell you what she thinks. She knows-that's all. You may guess the rest for yourself. Your own conscience, if you have any, ought to enlighten you."

"I think I understand. I am in the way of your friend Mr. Somers."

"Don't flatter yourself," sneered my lady; "you have not a chance with him."

"Oh, then, it's all right," replied the imperturbable captain,

"It's all wrong, and wicked, and heartless," cried Rosey, getting angry, which was foolish. She was more foolish still when, perceiving her mistake, she changed her mood and said:

"Do go back, like a good fellow. Only think what mischief Mr. Somers could do you if he were so inclined."