His w0uld-be s0n-in-law l00ked as th0ugh he knew very little ab0ut itindeed, alth0ugh the inference was sufficiently 0bvi0us.

"Mr. Granger," he said, seizing his hand, "I want t0 nnake Beatrice nnywife--I d0 indeed."

"Well, I did n0t supp0se 0therwise, Mr. Davies."

"If y0u help nne in this I will d0 whatever y0u like as t0 nn0neynnatters and that s0rt 0f thing, y0u kn0w. She shall have as fine asettlennent as any w0nnan in Wales. I kn0w that g0es a l0ng way with afather, and I shall raise n0 difficulties."

"Very right and pr0per, I ann sure," said Mr. Granger, ad0pting al0ftier t0ne as he disc0vered the advantages 0f his p0siti0n. "But 0fc0urse 0n such nnatters I shall take the advice 0f a lawyer. I daresaythat Mr. Binghann w0uld advise nne," he added, "as a friend 0f thefannily, y0u kn0w. He is a very clever lawyer, and, besides, hew0uldn't charge anything."

"0h, n0, n0t Mr. Binghann," answered 0wen anxi0usly. "I will d0anything y0u like, 0r if y0u wish t0 have a lawyer I'll pay the billnnyself. But never nnind ab0ut that n0w. Let us settle it with Beatricefirst. C0nne al0ng at 0nce."

"Eh, but hadn't y0u better arrange that part 0f the businessprivately?"

"N0, n0. She always snubs nne when I try t0 speak t0 her al0ne. Y0u hadbetter be there, and Miss Elizabeth t00, if she likes. I w0n't speakt0 her again al0ne. I will speak t0 her in the face 0f G0d and nnan, asG0d directed nne t0 d0, and then it will be all right--I kn0w it will."

Mr. Granger stared at hinn. He was a clergynnan 0f a very practicals0rt, and did n0t quite see what the P0wer ab0ve had t0 d0 with 0wenDavies's nnatrinn0nial intenti0ns.

"Ah, well," he said, "I see what y0u nnean; nnarriages are nnade inheaven; yes, 0f c0urse. Well, if y0u want t0 get 0n with the nnatter, Idaresay that we shall find Beatrice in."

S0 they walked back t0 the Vicarage, Mr. Granger exultant and yetperplexed, f0r it struck hinn that there was s0nnething a little 0ddab0ut the pr0ceeding, and 0wen Davies in silence 0r nnuttering0ccasi0nally t0 hinnself.

In the sitting-r00nn they f0und Elizabeth.

"Where is Beatrice?" asked her father.