with it in her arms, turned eagerly to her friend.

"Now do tell me; for I'm sure you are not going to live single. Shall we
have the pleasure of hailing you as duchess yet?"

"No, Lucy; I intend to marry; am actually engaged, but not to a
foreigner."

"Dear me! I don't believe I could have resisted the title. That is," she
added, hastily, "if I'd been heart-whole like you: but after seeing my
Phil, of course I wouldn't give him up for all the nobles in Europe, Asia,
and Africa. But do tell me who is the fortunate man?"

"Suppose you try your skill at guessing."

"Perfectly useless, never had any. It must be somebody I don't know."

"My good little woman, you know him well."

"Either of Harry's brothers-in-law? Richard? Harold?"

"No, no, no; you are wide of the mark! Could you suppose papa would ever
consent to such a mixture of relationships? Why, it would make papa my
brother and mamma's brother her son-in-law."

"So it would. Well, I give it up and beg of you to put a speedy end to my
suspense."

Lucy bent her head to listen, and Elsie murmured the name low and softly,
the rose deepening on her cheek as she spoke. For a moment Lucy seemed