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 the threepence, and a drawerful of pawn-tickets. That was a splendid act of romance."

"Yes; but romance must be"

"No it must not," he insisted. "Romance must be just its mad, capricious, inconsequent self."

"But you must have something in mind. What is to happen after the four or five weeks?"

"Aunt Caroline suggests the colonies; both Drew and I regard the colonies as an Imperial asset and nothing more. We love them from afar. They produce splendid fellows—we've fought with them; but for all that we prefer our own country, just as they prefer theirs."

"But what have you to live for? There seems" she began.

"Three or four weeks' good time, a walk a day with you, and the privilege of keeping off the Thirty-Nine Articles," he smiled.

She looked at him gravely, then shook her head, as if entirely unable to comprehend his attitude.

"I don't understand you in the least," she said at length, "and I don't think any one else does, either."

"What makes you say that?" enquired Beresford.

"I was talking to Lady Tanagra Elton a few days back about Lord Drewitt, and your name came up, and" she paused.

"And what?" enquired Beresford, knocking the ashes out of his pipe on the heel of his boot. "Do not spare me."

"Well," said Lola, with a smile, "she said that you were 'a dear boy, but quite mad.'"