“There’s ’er pride to consider, Teddy,” said the latter gentleman, with the whisper of a conspirator.

“She can’t stand being talked about all over the town and pointed at.”

“Let me see anybody a-pointing at ’er,” said the truculent Mr. Silk; “let me see ’em, that’s all.”

“That’s the way to talk, Teddy,” said Mr. Kybird, gazing at him with admiration.

“Talk!” said the heroic Mr. Silk.  “I’ll do more than talk.”  He clenched his fists and paced boldly up and down the hearthrug.

“You leave things to me,” said Mr. Kybird, with a confidential wink.  “I’ll see that it’s all right.  All I ask of you is to keep it a dead secret; even your mother mustn’t know.”

“I’ll be as secret as the grave,” said the overjoyed Mr. Silk.

“There’s lots o’ things to be taken into consideration,” said Mr. Kybird, truthfully; “it might be as well for you to be married immediate.”

“Immediate?” said the astonished Mr. Silk.

“She ’asn’t got the nerve to send young Nugent about ’is business,” explained Mr. Kybird; “she feels sorry for ’im, pore fellow; but ’e’s got a loving and affectionate ’art, and she can’t bear ’im making love to ’er.  You can understand what it is, can’t you?”

“I can imagine it,” said Mr. Silk, gloomily, and he flushed crimson as the possibilities suggested by the remark occurred to him.

“I’ve been thinking it over for some time,” resumed Mr. Kybird; “twisting it and turning it all ways, and the only thing I can see for it is for you to be married on the strict q.t.  Of course, if you don’t like—­”

“Like!” repeated the transported Mr. Silk.

“I’ll go and be married now, if you like.”

Mr. Kybird shook his head at such haste, and then softening a little observed that it did him credit.  He proceeded to improve the occasion by anecdotes of his own courting some thirty years before, and was in the middle of a thrilling account of the manner in which he had bearded the whose of his future wife’s family, when a quick step outside, which paused at the door, brought him to a sudden halt.

“Mother,” announced Mr. Silk, in a whisper.

Mr. Kybird nodded, and the heroic appearance of visage which had accompanied his tale gave way to an expression of some uneasiness.  He coughed behind his hand, and sat gazing before him as Mrs. Silk entered the room and gave vent to an exclamation of astonishment as she saw the visitor.  She gazed sharply from him to her son.  Mr. Kybird’s expression was now normal, but despite his utmost efforts Mr. Silk could not entirely banish the smile which trembled on his lips.

“Me and Teddy,” said Mr. Kybird, turning to her with a little bob, which served him for a bow, “’ave just been having a little talk about old times.”

“He was just passing,” said Mr. Silk.

“Just passing, and thought I’d look in,” said Mr. Kybird, with a careless little laugh; “the door was open a bit.”