mounted. Her father, finding that Jim wanted to speak to her
privately, and that she exhibited some elusiveness, turned to Margery
and said; 'Come, come, my lady; no more of this nonsense. You just
step behind with that young man, and I and the cart will wait for
you.'

Margery, a little scared at her father's peremptoriness, obeyed. It
was plain that Jim had won the old man by that night's stroke, if he
had not won her.

'I know what you are going to say, Jim,' she began, less ardently
now, for she was no longer under the novel influence of the shining
silver and glass. 'Well, as you desire it, and as my father desires
it, and as I suppose it will be the best course for me, I will fix
the day--not this evening, but as soon as I can think it over.'



CHAPTER VIII



Notwithstanding a press of business, Jim went and did his duty in
thanking the Baron. The latter saw him in his fishing-tackle room,
an apartment littered with every appliance that a votary of the rod
could require.

'And when is the wedding-day to be, Hayward?' the Baron asked, after
Jim had told him that matters were settled.