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 written that note myself," said the Honorable John Ruffin thoughtfully, with the air of one who had a deep-rooted distrust of the epistolary powers of the household brigade.

It proved well-founded, for he had finished his breakfast but a few minutes when Captain Croome came in a very somber mood.

He sank heavily into an easy-chair and said gloomily: "It's no go; she won't hear of it."

"Isn't it rather early to be depressed?" said the Honorable John Ruffin calmly. "What, after all, is a woman's 'No'? Is it not a polite form of 'Yes'?"

"That sounds as if you'd begun to rot; and if you have, there's no doing anything," said Captain Croome sadly. "Well, you didn't expect her to see it the first time, did you?" said his adviser coldly. "And what's more, you wouldn't have liked it if she had. What you've got to do is to peg away."

"She seems awfully determined about it. Her letter's very firm," said Captain Croome; but his face brightened a little.

"Of course it is. The idea startled her at first. It would startle any nice girl. But probably by now