That gentleman, however, was out, and Mr. Nugent, somewhat irritated at such thoughtlessness, stood in the road wondering where to go next.  It was absolutely impossible for him to sleep that night without telling the good news to somebody, and after some thought he selected Mr. Wilks.  It was true that relations had been somewhat strained between them since the latter’s attempt at crimping him, but he was never one to bear malice, and to-night he was full of the kindliest thoughts to all mankind.

He burst into Mr. Wilks’s front room suddenly and then pulled up short.  The steward, with a pitiable look of anxiety on his pallid features, was leaning awkwardly against the mantelpiece, and opposite him Mrs. Silk sat in an easy-chair, dissolved in tears.

“Busy, Sam?” inquired Mr. Nugent, who had heard of the steward’s difficulties from Hardy.

“No, sir,” said Mr. Wilks, hastily; “sit down, sir.”

He pushed forward a chair and, almost pulling his visitor into it, stood over him attentively and took his hat.

“Are you quite sure I’m not interrupting you?” inquired the thoughtful Mr. Nugent.

“Certain sure, sir,” said Mr. Wilks, eagerly.  “I was just ’aving a bit of a chat with my neighbour, Mrs. Silk, ’ere, that’s all.”

The lady in question removed her handkerchief from her eyes and gazed at him with reproachful tenderness.  Mr. Wilks plunged hastily into conversation.

“She came over ‘ere to tell me a bit o’ news,” he said, eyeing the young man doubtfully.  “It seems that Teddy——­”

Mr. Nugent fetched a mighty sigh and shook his head; Mrs. Silk gazed at him earnestly.

“Life is full of surprises, sir,” she remarked.

“And sadness,” added Mr. Nugent.  “I hope that they will be happy.”

“It struck me all of a ’eap,” said Mrs. Silk, rolling her handkerchief into a ball and placing it in her lap.  “I was doing a bit of ironing when in walks Teddy with Amelia Kybird, and says they was married last Friday.  I was that shaken I didn’t know what I did or what I said.  Then I came over as soon as I could, because I thought Mr. Wilks ought to know about it.”

Mr. Wilks cleared his throat and turned an agonized eye on Mr. Nugent.  He would have liked to have asked why Mrs. Silk should think it necessary to inform him, but the fear of precipitating a crisis stayed his tongue.

“What I’m to do, I don’t know,” continued Mrs. Silk, feebly.  You can’t ’ave two queens in one ’ouse, so to speak.”

“But she was walking out with Teddy long ago,” urged Mr. Wilks.  “It’s no worse now than then.”

“But I wouldn’t be married by license,” said Mrs. Silk, deftly ignoring the remark.  “If I can’t be asked in church in the proper way I won’t be married at all.”

“Quite right,” said Mr. Nugent; “there’s something so sudden about a license,” he added, with feeling.

“Me and Mr. Wilks was talking about marriage only the other day,” pursued Mrs. Silk, with a bashfulness which set every nerve in the steward’s body quivering, “and we both agreed that banns was the proper way.