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upon each of his arms. ‘No, Angel, I be not really so—by Nature, I mean!’ The more particularly to assure him that she was not, she placed herself close to him in the settle, and allowed her head to find a resting-place against Clare’s shoulder. ‘What did you want to ask me—I am sure I will answer it,’ she continued humbly.

‘Well, you love me, and have agreed to marry me, and hence there follows a thirdly, “When shall the day be?”’

‘I like living like this.’

‘But I must think of starting in business on my own hook with the new year, or a little later. And before I get involved in the multifarious details of my new position, I should like to have secured my partner.’

‘But,’ she timidly answered, ‘to speak quite practically, wouldn’t it be best not to marry till after all that?—Though I can’t bear the thought o’ your going away and leaving me here!’

‘Of course you cannot—and it is not best in this case. I want you to help me in many ways in making my start. When shall it be? Why not a fortnight from now?’