sort of person we want."

"And knows thoroughly well how to manage horses, my dear. What
_can_ be your aunt's objection to him?"

As the words passed his lips Lady Claudia opened the library
door.

"I am so ashamed of myself," she said, sweetly. "At my age, I
have been behaving like a spoiled child. How good you are to me,
General! Let me try to make amends for my misconduct. Will you
permit me?"

She took up the General's letter, without waiting for permission;
tore it to pieces, smiling pleasantly all the while; and threw
the fragments into the waste-paper basket. "As if you didn't know
better than I do!" she said, kissing him on the forehead. "Engage
the man by all means."

She left the room for the second time. For the second time my
uncle looked at me in blank perplexity--and I looked back at him
in the same condition of mind. The sound of the luncheon bell was
equally a relief to both of us. Not a word more was spoken on the
subject of the new groom. His references were verified; and he
entered the General's service in three days' time.

VI.

ALWAYS careful in anything that concerned my welfare, no matter
how trifling it might be, my uncle did not trust me alone with