while the iron is hot,' as the lawyer said. You've still got four days' leave; come along to Aldershot, and steer me and yourself to victory."

"Ah! to victory! but is it to be victory for me? Happy events are rare enough in the world, but happy coincidences, how often do they happen?"

"What an old croaker you are!-the moment I begin to be jolly, you damp it by tumbling into the blues. You talk like an ass, Donald; you talk as if the whole affair was a matter of chance, like each of us winning a fortune at roulette on the same day. From what you told me, Lady Rose as good as promised; and, between you and me, you ought to have settled it on the spot. If she meant to take you, she would have done it then as much as now; why didn't you speak out like a man?"

"Mrs Badger came just as I was going

to say to say what I really think I was going to say."

"Why didn't you say it before Mrs Badger came, then? I've often heard it said that you clever fellows don't get on half so well with women as we thickheads do. Upon my word, I believe it's true; and I suspect it's because you crane at your fences, and want to take them artistically, turning back and back for a new take-off, instead of cramming in the spurs and going slap at them, no matter where, never mind how, so long as you get over. You treat them-women, I mean-like muses, or goddesses, or sylphs, or something, and won't speak to them like human beings. Hang it all! they are human beings, you know. But courage! Lady Rose-I'll answer for her." "Varium et mutabile semper

"Oh! bother the dead languages! keep your spirits up, and don't let us spend the night talking metaphysics in Soho. Come on."

CHAPTER XIX.

"Ah! one rose,

One rose, but one by those fair fingers culled,
Were worth a hundred kisses pressed on lips
Less exquisite than thine."

-TENNYSON.

WE spent that evening together in the room in the Barracks at Aldershot, where Burridge and I had, some three months before, first formed our momentous acquaintance. "What an age it seemed!" was the idea that occurred to both of us; "And to think," said Dolly, that we should have only known each other three months! Wonderful, isn't it? considering that, I'll be bound, there are no two fellows such pals in camp, or anywhere."

“Human life is properly to be measured

by a reference to the number and intensity of our emotions, rather than by any arithmetical computation of days and years,' said I, sententiously.

"Now that's the kind of thing I'll be bound that's exactly the kind of aggravating thing-you go saying to Lady Rose. Why, my dear fellow, it's enough to frighten the Pope. Please stow away all that sort of nonsense in your portmanteau till after to-morrow, or woe betide you. And, talking of to-morrow, Donald, what is our scheme-our plan of attack?"

"Well, there are two or three things to

be taken into consideration.

The ladies are

I was thinking of a little plan; if you

approve of it, I think it would suit all

parties concerned very well. should both go over to F

It is, that we

in the morn

ing, but that you should wait at the hotel, while I go the house, see Lady Rose, tell her all about it, and consult with her as to the best means of breaking the news to her cousin; and then, when the fitting moment arrives, we shall send for you, and introduce the hero on to the stage."

"Ah! I see, Master Donald; you're a sly hand. You're going to take our little affairs as a text, and preach your own sermon on it, with a practical application; but, with all my heart, provided the sermon isn't too long, and you don't keep me waiting an age outside paradise. Success to the sermon, old boy, and I'm sure it will be successful."

When we separated for the night, I perceived that my feelings closely resembled those of another night when I believed my