"It is true you are of age, Stella," Canon Ebley allowed, "and if
you like to take the law into your own hands, we cannot legally
prevent you, as I have tried to explain this morning to your aunt
and Eustace, but it is all very shocking and unusual, and very
disturbing. You must remember, Count Roumovski is a foreigner,
and we English people are prejudiced. I--fear for your happiness,
my dear child!"

"You do not pay me a high compliment, sir," Count Roumovski said,
but without resentment. "Time, however, will prove whether I can
take care of your niece or no. Do you feel any fear for yourself,
Stella?"

"Not in the least," Miss Rawson said, and they clasped fond hands.
"I would go away with you, Sasha, to the ends of the earth now at
once, and never ask you a single question. And I should certainly
die if I were forced to go back to Eustace Medlicott."

"Then I suppose there is nothing more to be said," Canon Ebley
stammered, upon which Stella again flung herself into his arms.

"Indeed, sir--I give you my word that you will not regret this
decision," Count Roumovski said gravely. "I believe your niece and
I were made for one another."

"We will hope so," returned Canon Ebley, who could no longer keep
up a stern resistance in the face of perfectly logical arguments
and a witch of a girl purring over him and patting his cheek. He
would have given in with a fair grace but for the awful knowledge