and, far from showing any marked abhorrence to her in her present

state of destitution, implored her with tears in his eyes to marry him

at once, and to bring the Colonel to live with them for the rest of

his natural existence.

For, "It's damned impertinent of me, of course," Mr. Van Orden readily

conceded, "and I suppose I ought to beg your pardon for mentioning it,

but I

do

love you to a perfectly unlimited extent. It's playing the

very deuce with my polo, Miss Hugonin, and as for my appetite--why,