"Of course not; only it is three things, not one. First, he works harder
than any man I know, and I think men who work adorable, because I am so
lazy myself. Secondly, he thinks a great deal, and very few people do
that to any purpose. Thirdly, I never feel inclined to go to sleep when
he takes me in to dinner. Oh! you may laugh if you like, but ask dad
what happened to me last month with that wretched old member of the
Government, and before the sweets, too!"

"Please, please," put in Mr. Porson, turning pink under pressure of some
painful recollection. "If you have finished sparring with your uncle,
isn't there any tea, Mary?"

"I believe so," she said, relapsing into a state of bland indifference.
"I'll go and see. If I don't come back, you'll know it is there," and
Mary passed through the door with that indolent, graceful walk which no
one could mistake who once had seen her.

Both her father and her uncle looked after her with admiration. Mr.
Porson admired her because the man or woman who dared to meet that
domestic tyrant his brother-in-law in single combat, and could issue
unconquered from the doubtful fray, was indeed worthy to be honoured.
Colonel Monk for his part hastened to do homage to a very pretty and
charming young lady, one, moreover, who was not in the least afraid of
him.

Mary had gone, and the air from the offending window, which was so
constructed as to let in a maximum of draught, banged the door behind
her. The two men looked at each other. A thought was in the mind of
each; but the Colonel, trained by long experience, and wise in his