I'll be yours upon one solemn condition--that from this hour till death parts us, you promise to give your faith where you give your love." "I'll give my faith where I give my love," said Percy, solemnly.
Next month they were married, and he gave his confidence where he gave his love, and he never had reason to regret it.
* * * * * "John Baker." "Sir." "You had better mind what you are about, or you'll get fonder of her than of Walter himself." "Never, Colonel, never! And so will you." Then, after a moment's reflection, John Baker inquired how they were to help it.

"Look here, Colonel," said he, "a man's a man, but a woman's a woman.

It isn't likely as Master Walter will always be putting his hand round your neck and kissing of you when you're good, and pick a white hair off your coat if he do but see one when you're going out, and shine upon you in-doors more than the sun does on you out-of-doors; and 'taint to be supposed as Mr.Walter will never meet me on the stairs without breaking out into a smile to cheer an old fellow's heart, and showing L2000 worth of ivory all at one time; and if I've a cold or a bit of a headache he won't send his lady's maid to see after me and tell me what I am to do, and threaten to come and nurse me himself if I don't mend." "Well," said the Colonel, "there's something in all this." "For all that," said John Baker, candidly, "I shall make you my confession, sir.

I said to Mr.Walter myself, said I, 'Here's a pretty business,' said I; 'I've known and loved you from a child, and Mrs.
Walter has only been here six months, and now I'm afraid she'll make me love her more than I do you.'" "Why, of course she will," said Mr.Walter.

"Why, _I_ love her better than I do myself, and you've got to follow suit, or else I'll murder you." So that question was settled.
* * * * * The five hundred guineas reward rankled in the minds of those detectives, and, after a few months, with the assistance of the ordinary police in all the northern towns, they got upon a cold scent, and then upon a warm scent, and at last they suspected their bird, under the _alias_ of Carruthers.