igo THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



" and shurely the first requisite for a marridge is A Bride, 

 so there, write and tel me all is false or never see me agane. 



" TOTTIE. 



" p.S. — i ave alreddy showed the leter too a solissyter who 

 ses it is ' good biz.' " 



Travers finished reading this precious missive, and dropped 

 helplessly into the seat at his side. Then, letting his face 

 sink into his hands, he groaned — 



" And I was just engaged to be married, too ! " 



Eonald sat on, thinking over the situation. Sir Tommy 

 and Jack quietly sneaked off out of the room to save them- 

 selves any trouble in the matter. If Binkie liked to be such 

 a fool, etc., etc., they said, it was no business of theirs. And 

 if he was ' on the marry,' well, he wouldn't be much more 

 good to them anyhow, so he and his affairs might ' rip,' for 

 all they cared. 



After a prolonged pause, varied at intervals by Binkie 's 

 hollow groans, Ronald spoke — 



" Is that the only letter she has of yours ? " 



"I — I — think so. And I never had the faintest idea of 

 marrying her, you know. I have fooled about. You remember 

 seeing her with me at Aldridge's, that day, and I told you she 

 wasn't quite " 



" Quite — yes, I remember. Well, it looks as though she 

 means mischief, and she's apparently gone to one of these 

 scoundrelly lawyers who make a practice, such as it is, out of 

 taking up shady and speculative cases. But if that's really all 

 the proof she can show of an engagement to marry, why, I 

 think I can promise you a safe deliverance." 



