“Oh yes, you may smile and look astonished;” went on the Professor good-humoredly, “but science does not destroy the primeval instincts entirely.  Lucy, my dear,” he took her hand and patted it, “while in London and in lodgings, it was borne in upon me forcibly how lonely I was and how lonely I would be when you married our young friend yonder.  I had intended to come down to-morrow, but to-night, such was my feeling of loneliness that I considered favorably your idea that I should find a second helpmate in Mrs. Jasher.  I have always had a profound admiration for that lady, and so—­on the spur of the moment, as I may say—­ I decided to come down this evening and propose.”

“Oh,” Lucy clapped her hands, very well satisfied with the unexpected news, “and have you?”

“Mrs. Jasher,” said the Professor gravely, “did me the honor to promise to become my wife this evening.”

“She will become your wife this evening?” said Archie, smiling.

Braddock, with one of those odd twists of humor which were characteristic of him, became irascible.

“Confound it, sir, don’t I speak English,” he snapped, with his eyes glaring rebuke.  “She promised this evening to become Mrs. Braddock.  We shall marry—­so we have arranged—­in the springtime, which is the natural pairing season for human beings as well as for birds.  And I am glad to say that Mrs. Jasher takes a deep interest in archaeology.”

“And, what is more, she is a splendid housekeeper,” said Lucy.

The temporary anger of the Professor vanished.  He drew his step-daughter towards him and kissed her on the cheek.

“I believe that I have to thank you for putting the idea into my head,” said he, “and also—­if Mrs. Jasher is to be believed—­ for aiding her to see the mutual advantage it would be to both of us to marry.  Ha,” he released Lucy and rubbed his hands, “let us go to dinner.”

“I am very glad,” said Miss Kendal heartily.

“So am I, so am I,” replied Braddock, nodding.  “As you very truly observed, my child, the house would have gone to rack and ruin without a woman to look after my interests.  Well,” he took the arms of the two young people, “I really think that we must have a bottle of champagne on the strength of it.”

Shortly the trio were seated at the table, and Braddock explained that Mrs. Jasher, being overcome by his proposal, had not been able to face the ordeal of congratulations.

“But she will come to-morrow,” said he, as Cockatoo filled three glasses.

“Indeed, I shall congratulate her to-night,” said Lucy obstinately.  “As soon as dinner is over, I shall go with Archie to her house, and tell her how pleased I am.”

“It is very cold for you to be out, Lucy dear,” urged Archie anxiously.

“Oh, I can wrap up warmly,” she answered.

Strange to say, the Professor made no objection to the excursion, although Hope quite expected such a stickler for etiquette to refuse permission to his step-daughter.  But Braddock seemed rather pleased than otherwise.  His proposal of marriage seemed to have put him into excellent humor, and he raised his glass with a chuckle.