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 *—but it would break his dear old heart to think I had disobeyed him."

Letty Standiford, as she said this, was an object for angels to love, in spite of her wild air, her mannish hat and coat, her flying and dishevelled locks.

"It is safe with me," said Thorndyke, gravely, and Senator Mulligan spoke up:

"Divil a word will I say about it. I'm too much afraid of th' ould chap—and of you, too, Miss Letty."

"Glad to hear it, Sinitor," replied madcap Letty, viciously mimicking the Senator's unfortunate accent, "and, oh, Mr. Thorndyke, have you heard that Miss Maitland is engaged to Mr. Cathcart, the navy man, who is always hanging around her? It was announced this morning. Good-bye."

Letty flashed off, with a bicycle policeman after her full tilt.

Thorndyke was near his lodgings. He did not know how he got there, but presently he found himself sitting in his arm-chair before the fire. Two hours later, when the maid-servant brought him a letter, he was sitting in the same position.