Page:The Fate of Fenella (1892).djvu/151

 Mrs. der Vin-yay, say the word, and you'll make me the happiest man in the United States."

"But there is an obstacle to our marriage," she whispered, "perhaps an insuperable one. Had it not been so, I should have said 'yes,' last night."

"Dollars can overcome all obstacles," replied the colonel. "What is it? I guess it'll make no difference between us."

"I have a little nephew, the orphan child of an only sister, now deceased, and I will marry no man who asks me to leave him behind."

"That man won't be myself, Mrs. der Vin-yay. Bring him along, by all means. There's room in the States for another boy or two, and I'll do by him as if he were my own."

"Oh! you are too good, too good," exclaimed Lucille fervently, as she pressed his hand.

The Senator was not young, and in no mind to wait, besides which he was anxious to get back to his own country, so, as the lady's wishes appeared to coincide with his own, they arranged matters to their mutual satisfaction that evening, and in a fortnight were married at a registrar's office in London, without anyone but themselves being the wiser for the transaction. Lucille had pleaded for secrecy, lest her friends should interfere to prevent her leaving England, and the colonel had arrived at that age when a man detests all publicity and fuss. So Mme. de Vigny was transformed into Mrs. Colonel Clutterbuck as if by