“Give me a chance to tell a part of the story, Mr. Sherwood.  Dexie has made me a happy man at last.  You will not care to hear all the particulars just now, but she has promised to be my wife.”

“Is this really true, Dexie?” looking with loving eyes at his daughter.

Dexie raised her hand, saying softly: 

“See, papa,” and the flashing ring answered the question.

“Well, well; I can hardly believe it yet.  Go and kiss him, Dexie, right before me, if it is really true; seeing is believing, you know.”

Guy looked at her smilingly, saying, as he held out his hands, “Come,
Dexie.”

Dexie put one hand in his, and laying the other across his shoulder bent over and kissed him; and she made no resistance when he put one arm around her and drew her down on his knee.

“Well, this is a pleasant surprise, I’m sure.  You have made good use of the time, Traverse,” and Mr. Sherwood laughed softly.  “You have been rather a perverse young lady, Dexie, but you have fallen into good hands at last.  You must not leave me yet, dear child, for what should I do without my little nurse?  But, bless my heart! there’s three o’clock.  You will not get into your hotel at this hour, Traverse, but I expect you would not sleep much if you did, so go back into the sitting-room, the both of you, and finish the night!”

“Thank you, Mr. Sherwood; your liberty adds much to the pleasure.  I hope we have not tired you,” he added, as he rose from his seat.

“Not at all!  Another drink, Dexie, and be off with you!”

“Don’t tell on us, papa,” she whispered, as she prepared his drink.  “Jarvis is sure to sleep till I awaken her, and this is not likely to happen again,” laughing.

“Well, better make the most of it, then; so be off with your lover,” and he waved her away from his side.

“It was not so dreadful, after all, to come to my arms before your father, was it?” Guy asked, a few minutes later.  “I am sure it pleased him to see it, and it was good of him to allow me a little longer bliss.”

But time passed swiftly, as it always does with happy lovers, and the grey dawn of early morning warned them that they must separate.  As they stood by the window, watching the first rays of light in the east, Dexie said: 

“I will have to send you away soon, Guy, or you will be discovered; but I am going to invite you to an early breakfast here with me before you go.”

“Never mind breakfast, dearest; I would rather have you here by my side until the last minute.  I expect some machinery by the early train, so I think I will go down and see if it has arrived; that will give us forty minutes more together,” taking out his watch.

“Then a part of the time will be well spent in preparing you a slight refreshment—­nothing elaborate, you know, or Eliza would pounce down on me at the first sound,” and she left him at the window, and hurried to the kitchen.