The Castle Inn

'Eh? what? It's not!' he babbled. 'Then what is it? Command me, whatever

it is.' 'I believe, my lord,' she said, smiling faintly, 'that a woman is always

privileged to change her mind--once.' My lord stared. Then, gathering her meaning as much from her heightened

colour as from her words, 'What!' he screamed. 'Eh? O Lord! Do you mean

that you will have me? Eh? Have you sent for me for that? Do you really

mean that?' And he fumbled for his spy-glass that he might see her face

more clearly.

'I mean,' Julia began; and then, more firmly, 'Yes, I do mean that,' she

said, 'if you are of the same mind, my lord, as you were half an

hour ago.' 'Crikey, but I am!' Lord Almeric cried, fairly skipping in his joy. 'By

jingo! I am! Here's to you, my lady! Here's to you, ducky! Oh, Lord! but

I was fit to kill myself five minutes ago, and those fellows would have

done naught but roast me. And now I am in the seventh heaven. Ho! ho!'

he continued, with a comical pirouette of triumph, 'he laughs best who

laughs last. But there, you are not afraid of me, pretty? You'll let me

buss you?' But Julia, with a face grown suddenly white, shrank back and held out

her hand.

'Sakes! but to seal the bargain, child,' he remonstrated, trying to get

near her.

She forced a faint smile, and, still retreating, gave him her hand to

kiss. 'Seal it on that,' she said graciously. Then, 'Your lordship will

pardon me, I am sure. I am not very well, and--and yesterday has shaken

me. Will you be so good as to leave me now, until to-morrow?' 'To-morrow!' he cried. 'To-morrow! Why, it is an age! An eternity!' But she was determined to have until to-morrow--God knows why. And, with

a little firmness, she persuaded him, and he went.