‘That letter—­’ still muttered Tom.

’She’ll forgive, and like you all the better for having afforded her a catastrophe, Tom.  You may write by the next mail; unless, what is better still, you come home with us by the same, and speak for yourself.  If I am your master then, I’ll give you the holiday.  Yes, Tom, it was important to me to clear up your countenance, for I want to bespeak your services to-morrow as my friend.’

‘My Lord!’ cried Tom, aghast.  ’If you do require any such service, though I should not have thought it, there are many nearer your own rank, officers and gentlemen fitter for an affair of the kind.  I never knew anything about fire-arms, since I gave up poaching.’

’Indeed, Tom, I am very far from intending to dispense with your services.  I want you to guide me to procure the required weapon!’

‘Surely,’ said Tom, with a deep, reluctant sigh, ’you never crossed the Isthmus without one?’

’Yes, indeed, I did; I never saw the party there whom I should have liked to challenge in this way.  Why, Tom, did you really think I had come out to Peru to fight a duel on a Sunday morning?’

’That’s what comes of living in this sort of place.  Duels are meat and drink to the people here,’ said Tom, ashamed and relieved, ’and there have been those who told me it was all that was wanting to make me a gentleman.  But in what capacity am I to serve you, my Lord!’

’In the first place, tell me where I may procure a wedding-ring!  Yes, Tom, that’s the weapon!  You’ve no objection to being my friend in that capacity!’

Tom’s astonished delight went beyond the bounds of expression, and therefore was compressed into an almost grim ’Whatever you will, my Lord;’ but two hot tears were gushing from his eyes.  He dashed them away, and added, ’What a fool I am!  You’ll believe me, my Lord, though I can’t speak, that, though there may be many nearer and more your equals, there’s none on earth more glad and happy to see you so, than myself.’

’I believe it, indeed, Tom; shake hands, to wish me joy; I am right glad to have one here from Ormersfield, to make it more home-like.  For, though it is a hurry at last, you can guess what she has been to me from the first.  Knowing her thoroughly has been one of the many, many benefits that Ferny dell conferred on me.’

There was no time for more than to enjoin silence.  Louis had to hurry to the Consul and the Chaplain, and to overcome their astonishment.

On the other hand, Mary was, as usual, seeking and recovering the balance of her startled spirits in her own chamber.  She saw the matter wisely and simply, and had full confidence in Louis, with such a yearning for his protection that, it may be, the strange suddenness of the proposal cost her the less.  She came forth and announced her intention to Mrs. Willis, who was inclined to resent it as derogatory to the dignity of womanhood, and the privileges of a bride; but Mary smiled and answered that, ’when he had taken so much trouble for her, she could not give him any more by things of that sort.  She must be as little in his way as possible.’