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my aunt exclaimed, altering the venue once more. 'But there's no respect for age left. I expect to be neglected. However, that's neither here nor there. The point is this: you're the one man now living in the family. You ought to behave like a brother to Daphne. Why don't you board this Holsworthy person and ask him his intentions?'

'Goodness gracious!' I cried; 'most excellent of aunts, that epoch has gone past. The late lamented Queen Anne is now dead. It's no use asking the young man of to-day to explain his intentions. He will refer you to the works of the Scandinavian dramatists.'

My aunt was speechless. She could only gurgle out the words:

'Well, I can safely say that of all the monstrous behaviour———' then language failed her and she relapsed into silence.

However, when Daphne and young Holsworthy returned, I had as much talk with him as I could, and when he left the house I left also.

'Which way are you walking?' I asked, as we turned out into the street.

'Towards my rooms in the Temple.'

'Oh! I'm going back to St. Nathaniel's,' I continued. If you'll allow me, I'll walk part way with you.'

'How very kind of you!'

We strode side by side a little distance in silence. Then a thought seemed to strike the lugubrious young man. 'What a charming girl your cousin is!' he exclaimed, abruptly.

'You seem to think so,' I answered, smiling.

He flushed a little; the lantern jaw grew longer. 'I admire her, of course,' he answered. 'Who doesn't? She is so extraordinarily handsome.'

'Well, not exactly handsome,' I replied, with more