"Dear--aunt," he choked, "how pleas--pleased she'd be if--she knew.
Don't look like that, Hardy. You'll kill me."

"You seem amused," said Hardy, between his teeth.

"And you'll be Kate's uncle," said Mr. Nugent, sitting up and wiping his
eyes. "Poor little Kate."

He put his head on the table again. "And mine," he wailed. "_Uncle
jemmy!_--will you tip us half-crowns, nunky?"

Mr. Hardy's expression of lofty scorn only served to retard his recovery,
but he sat up at last and, giving his eyes a final wipe, beamed kindly
upon his victim.

"Well, I'll do what I can for you," he observed, "but I suppose you know
Kate's off for a three months' visit to London to-morrow?"

The other observed that he didn't know it, and, taught by his recent
experience, eyed him suspiciously.

"It's quite true," said Nugent; "she's going to stay with some relatives
of ours. She used to be very fond of one of the boys--her cousin
Herbert--so you mustn't be surprised if she comes back engaged. But I
daresay you'll have forgotten all about her in three months. And,
anyway, I don't suppose she'd look at you if you were the last man in the
world. If you'll walk part of the way home with me I'll regale you with
anecdotes of her chilhood which will probably cause you to change your
views altogether."