"Then that shows how often you come to see your relations, Hubert!" my aunt burst out, obliquely. "The man's been here, to my certain knowledge, every day this six weeks." "Really, Aunt Fanny," I said; "you must recollect that a professional man--" "Oh, yes. THAT'S the way! Lay it all down to your profession, do, Hubert! Though I KNOW you were at the Thorntons' on Saturday--saw it in the papers--the Morning Post--'among the guests were Sir Edward and Lady Burnes, Professor Sebastian, Dr. Hubert Cumberledge,' and so forth, and so forth. YOU think you can conceal these things; but you can't. I get to know them!" "Conceal them! My dearest aunt! Why, I danced twice with Daphne." "Daphne! Yes, Daphne. They all run after Daphne," my aunt exclaimed, altering the venue once more. "But there's no respect for age left. _I_ expect to be neglected. However, that's neither here nor there. The point is this: you're the one man now living in the family. You ought to behave like a brother to Daphne. Why don't you board this Holsworthy person and ask him his intentions?" "Goodness gracious!" I cried; "most excellent of aunts, that epoch has gone past. The late lamented Queen Anne is now dead. It's no use asking the young man of to-day to explain his intentions. He will refer you to the works of the Scandinavian dramatists." My aunt was speechless. She could only gurgle out the words: "Well, I can safely say that of all the monstrous behaviour--" then language failed her and she relapsed into silence. However, when Daphne and young Holsworthy returned, I had as much talk with him as I could, and when he left the house I left also. "Which way are you walking?" I asked, as we turned out into the street. "Towards my rooms in the Temple." "Oh! I'm going back to St. Nathaniel's," I continued. "If you'll allow me, I'll walk part way with you." "How very kind of you!" We strode side by side a little distance in silence. Then a thought seemed to strike the lugubrious young man. "What a charming girl your cousin is!" he exclaimed, abruptly. "You seem to think so," I answered, smiling.