"Well, then we shall see," replied the sarcastic little lady.

"Energy, eh?" said Tom. "Well, I will: so now to begin again. You know I have been energetic about Maude?"

"Ye-es, pretty well," said Tryphie. "Not half enough."

"Well, now then, dear--may I say dear?"

"If you please, Lord Diphoos," said Tryphie. "I can't help it."

"Well, I'm going to be energetic now, and see if I can't do something for Maude."

"What are you going to do?"

"See Charley Melton and stir him up. Then I shall stir up the gov'nor and Maude, and if none of these things do any good I shall have a go at Wilters."

"Ah," said Tryphie, "now I'm beginning to believe in you, and there is some hope that I shall not be forced into a marriage with that odious Captain Bellman."

"Tryphie," whispered Tom, as he stared, "just say that again."

She shook her head.

Tom looked upstairs and then down, saw n.o.body, and hastily catching the little maiden in his arms, stole a kiss before she fled, when, giving his head a satisfied shake, he went down to the hall, saw that his hat was brushed, and went off to Duke street, in utter ignorance of the fact that his father had been sitting in the curtained recess on the landing, where the flowers dwindled in a kind of conservatory, calmly devouring a piece of Bologna sausage and half a French roll.

"He, he, he," chuckled the old gentleman, "that's how they make love when they're young. I was--was--was a devil of a fellow among the ladies when I was Tom's age; but somehow now I never want to meet her ladyship on the stairs and kiss her. I'd--I'd--I'd a doosed deal rather have a nice piece of chicken, or a bit of tongue."

CHAPTER TWENTY.

TOM EXPRESSES HIS OPINION.

Charley Melton was not at home.

Tom went again. Not at home.

Three weeks pa.s.sed before he could meet him, and then it was by accident at one of the clubs, and during all this time Tryphie had grown colder, and the wedding-day was approaching. But at last the two young men encountered, and Tom went straight to the point, "Hit out," as he termed it.

"Charley Melton," he said, "are you going to let this cursed marriage come off?"

"What can I do?" said Charley, lighting a cigar. "I have tried everything, and am forbidden the house."

"Why not coax Maudey to come and meet you somewhere?"

"I have tried," said Melton, quietly, "but it is hopeless now."

"Why?"

"Her ladyship never lets your sister go out of her sight."

"Then make a bolt of it, Charley."

"You proposed that before. Oh, undutiful son."

"There, don't talk like a Turk," said Tom.

"I feel like one, Bismillah! It is Kismet," said Charley Melton, grimly.

"Fate's what a man makes himself."

"Yes, but you can't make bricks without straw. O! my Diphoos," said the other, mockingly, "I have so little golden straw that her ladyship refuses to let me make bricks at all, and--There, let the matter slide, old man."

"By George!" cried Tom, savagely. "And this is my old friend Charley Melton! Where's your spirit?"

"Ah! where indeed."

"I'd shoot Wilters if I were in your case."

"It would be agreeable, but the consequences are so precious unpleasant, Tom. I've had one awful drop: I don't want another."

"You're a coward, Charley, big as you are."

"I am, Tom, if it comes to being hung for shooting a baronet dead. No, Tom, I love Maude very much, but I am not chivalrous enough to risk the rope."

"Bah!"

"Yes, if you like, I am willing for the matrimonial noose, but that prepared for homicides--no: I would rather remain a bachelor."

"Then I cut you henceforth," said Tom, angrily. "I've done with you."

"No, you haven't, old fellow; some day after Maude is married we shall be quite brothers again."

"Never."

"Nonsense. Have a B. and S."

"With you? No, sir; I have done. Good-day."

"Good-bye, Tom, for I'm going off shortly."

"And pray where?"

"Italy, I think," said Melton, smiling.

"Won't you stop and see Wilters married?"

"No; I will not. Have a B. and S., old fellow."

Little Tom looked his friend over from top to toe, and then, with an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n full of contempt, he stalked out of the club, and went straight to Portland Place, where the first person he met was Tryphie alone in the drawing-room.