"Thank you, old chap,--I mean to."

"I'd rather you took her than Mr. Ca.s.silis, an'--why there he is!"

"Who?"

"Mr. Ca.s.silis. An' he's stopped, an' he's twisting his mestache."

Mr. Ca.s.silis, who had been crossing the paddock, had indeed stopped, and was twisting his black moustache, as if he were hesitating between two courses. Finally, he pushed open the gate, and, approaching Bellew, saluted him with that supercilious air which Miss Priscilla always declared she found so "trying."

"Ah, Mr. Bellew! what might it be this morning,--the pitchfork--the scythe, or the plough?" he enquired.

"Neither, sir,--this morning it is--matrimony!"

"Eh!--I beg your pardon,--matrimony?"

"With a large M, sir," nodded Bellew, "marriage, sir,--wedlock; my nephew and I are discussing it in its aspects philosophical, sociological, and--"

"That is surely rather a--peculiar subject to discuss with a child, Mr.

Bellew--"

"Meaning my nephew, sir?"

"I mean--young George, there."

"Precisely,--my nephew, Small Porges."

"I refer," said Mr. Ca.s.silis, with slow, and crushing emphasis, "to Miss Devine's nephew--"

"And mine, Mr. Ca.s.silis,--mine by--er--mutual adoption, and inclination."

"And I repeat that your choice of subjects is--peculiar, to say the least of it."

"But then, mine is rather a peculiar nephew, sir. But, surely it was not to discuss nephews,--mine or anyone else's, that you are hither come, and our ears do wait upon you,--pray be seated, sir."

"Thank you, I prefer to stand."

"Strange!" murmured Bellew, shaking his head, "I never stand if I can sit, or sit if I can lie down."

"I should like you to define, exactly, your position--here at Dapplemere, Mr. Bellew."

Bellew's sleepy glance missed nothing of the other's challenging att.i.tude, and his ear, nothing of Mr. Ca.s.silis's authoritative tone, therefore his smile was most engaging as he answered:

"My position here, sir, is truly the most--er--enviable in the world.

Prudence is an admirable cook,--particularly as regard Yorkshire Pudding; gentle, little Miss Priscilla is the most--er Aunt-like, and perfect of housekeepers; and Miss Anthea is our sovereign lady, before whose radiant beauty, Small Porges and I like true knights, and gallant gentles, do constant homage, and in whose behalf Small Porges and I do stand prepared to wage stern battle, by day, or by night."

"Indeed!" said Mr. Ca.s.silis, and his smile was even more supercilious than usual.

"Yes, sir," nodded Bellew, "I do confess me a most fortunate, and happy, wight who, having wandered hither and yon upon this planet of ours, which is so vast, and so very small,--has, by the most happy chance, found his way hither into Arcady."

"And--may I enquire how long you intend to lead this Arcadian existence?"

"I fear I cannot answer that question until the full o' the moon, sir,--at present, I grieve to say,--I do not know."

Mr. Ca.s.silis struck his riding-boot a sudden smart rap with his whip; his eyes snapped, and his nostrils dilated, as he glanced down into Bellew's imperturbable face.

"At least you know, and will perhaps explain, what prompted you to buy all that furniture? You were the only buyer at the sale I understand."

"Who--bought anything, yes," nodded Bellew.

"And pray--what was your object,--you--a stranger?"

"Well," replied Bellew slowly, as he began to fill his pipe, "I bought it because it was there to buy, you know; I bought it because furniture is apt to be rather useful, now and then,--I acquired the chairs to--er--sit in, the tables to--er--put things on, and--"

"Don't quibble with me, Mr. Bellew!"

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Ca.s.silis!"

"When I ask a question, sir, I am in the habit of receiving a direct reply,--"

"And when I am asked a question, Mr. Ca.s.silis, I am in the habit of answering it precisely as I please,--or not at all."

"Mr. Bellew, let me impress upon you, once and for all, that Miss Devine has friends,--old and tried friends, to whom she can always turn for aid in any financial difficulty she may have to encounter,--friends who can more than tide over all her difficulties without the--interference of strangers; and, as one of her oldest friends, I demand to know by what right you force your wholly unnecessary a.s.sistance upon her?"

"My very good sir," returned Bellew, shaking his head in gentle reproof, "really, you seem to forget that you are not addressing one of your grooms, or footmen,--consequently you force me to remind you of the fact; furthermore,--"

"That is no answer!" said Mr. Ca.s.silis, his gloved hands tight-clenched upon his hunting-crop,--his whole att.i.tude one of menace.

"Furthermore," pursued Bellew placidly, settling the tobacco in his pipe with his thumb, "you can continue to--er demand, until all's blue, and I shall continue to lie here, and smoke, and gaze up at the smiling serenity of heaven."

The black brows of Mr. Ca.s.silis met in a sudden frown, he tossed his whip aside, and took a sudden quick stride towards the rec.u.mbent Bellew with so evident an intention, that Small Porges shrank instinctively further within the encircling arm.

But, at that psychic moment, very fortunately for all concerned, there came the sound of a quick, light step, and Anthea stood between them.

"Mr. Ca.s.silis!--Mr. Bellew!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushed, and her bosom heaving with the haste she had made, "pray whatever does this mean?"

Bellew rose to his feet, and seeing Ca.s.silis was silent, shook his head and smiled:

"Upon my word, I hardly know, Miss Anthea. Our friend Mr. Ca.s.silis seems to have got himself all worked up over the--er--sale, I fancy--"

"The furniture!" exclaimed Anthea, and stamped her foot with vexation.

"That wretched furniture! Of course you explained your object in buying it, Mr. Bellew?"

"Well, no,--we hadn't got as far as that."

Now when he said this, Anthea's eyes flashed sudden scorn at him, and she curled her lip at him, and turned her back upon him:

"Mr. Bellew bought my furniture because he intends to set up house-keeping--he is to be married--soon, I believe."

"When the moon is at the full!" nodded Bellew.