“I do not understand it,” he thought; “there is something not quite right.  Philippa is not like herself.”

Then he went in search of Lady Peters, whom he bewildered and astonished by telling her that it lay in her power to make him the happiest of men.

“That is what men say when they make an offer of marriage,” she observed; “and I am sure you are not about to make one to me.”

“No; but, dear Lady Peters, I want you to help me marry some one else.  Will you go to the duchess?  She will tell you all about it.”

“Why not tell me yourself?” she asked.

“She has better powers of persuasion,” he replied, laughingly.

“Then I am afraid, if so much persuasion is required, that something wrong is on the tapis,” said Lady Peters.  “I cannot imagine why men who have beautiful young wives go yachting.  It seems to me a terrible mistake.”

Lord Arleigh laughed.

“The duke’s yachting has very little to do with this matter,” he said.  “Lady Peters, before you listen to the duchess, let me make one appeal to you.  With all my heart I beseech you to grant the favor that she will ask.”

He bent his handsome head, and kissed her hand, while emotion rose to the lady’s eyes.

“Is it something for you, Lord Arleigh?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied, “for my own unworthy self.”

“Then I will do it if possible,” she replied.

But when the Duchess of Hazlewood had told her what was needed, and had placed the whole matter before her, Lady Peters looked shocked.

“My dear Philippa,” she said, “this is terrible.  I could not have believed it.  She is a lovely, graceful, pure-minded girl, I know; but such a marriage for an Arleigh!  I cannot believe it.”

“That is unfortunate,” said her grace, dryly, “for he seems very much in earnest.”

“No money, no rank, no connections, while he is one of the finest matches in England.”

“She is his ideal,” was the mocking reply.  “It is not for us to point out deficiencies.”

“But what will the duke say?” inquired her ladyship, anxiously.

“I do not suppose that he will be very much surprised.  Even if he is, he will have had time to recover from his astonishment before he returns.  The duke knows that ‘beauty leads man at its will.’  Few can resist the charm of a pretty face”

“What shall I do?” asked Lady Peters, hopelessly.  “What am I to say?”

“Decide for yourself.  I decline to offer any opinion.  I say simply that if you refuse he will probably ask the favor of some one else.”

“But do you advise me to consent, Philippa?” inquired Lady Peters, anxiously.

“I advise you to please yourself.  Had he asked a similar favor of me, I might have granted or I might have refused it; I cannot say.”

“To think of that simple, fair-faced girl being Lady Arleigh!” exclaimed Lady Peters.  “I suppose that I had better consent, or he will do something more desperate.  He is terribly in earnest, Philippa.”