even own that he had been precipitate.

"Let her get accustomed to the idea," he said with a shrewd smile.
"The very outcry she makes against it will be all in my favour when
the turn comes."

"I doubt whether you will find it so."

"All the world does not live on romance like you, man. Look on, and
you will see that a pretty young widow like her cannot fail to get
into scrapes; have offers made to her, or at least the credit of
them. I'd lay you ten pounds that you are said to be engaged to her
yourself by this time, and it is no one's fault but your own that you
are not. It is in the very nature of things that she will be driven
to shelter herself from the persecution, with whoever has bided his
time."

"Oh, if you prefer being accepted on such terms--"

He smiled, as if the romance of the exclamation were beneath
contempt, and proceeded--"A pretty, gracious, ladylike woman, who has
seen enough of the world to know how to take her place, and yet will
be content with a quiet home. It is an introduction I thank you for,
Colin."

"And pray," said Colin, the more inwardly nettled because he knew
that his elder brother enjoyed his annoyance, "what do you think of
those seven slight encumbrances?"

"Oh, they are your charge," returned Lord Keith, with a twinkle in