As they walked on, threading their way among the vehicles, Tom took his companion's hand in his, and they exchanged one firm grip, which each felt to be of the nature of a pledge.

How sunny and bright the dull brick-lined streets appeared to those two young people that afternoon.

They were both looking into a future which seemed to be one long vista of happiness and love.

Of all the gifts of Providence, surely our want of knowledge of the things which are to come upon us is the most merciful, and the one we could least dispense with! So happy and so light-hearted were these two lovers that it was not until they found themselves in Warwick Street once more that they came down from the clouds, and realized that there were some commonplace details which must be dealt with in one way or another.
"Of course, I may tell my own people, dearest, about our engagement ?" Tom said.
"I wonder what your mother will say ?" answered Kate, laughing merrily.
"She will be awfully astonished." "How about Girdlestone ?" asked Tom.
The thought of the guardian had never occurred to either of them before.
They stared at each other, and Kate's face assumed such an expression of dismay that her companion burst out laughing.
"Don't be frightened, darling," he said.

"If you like, I'll go in and 'beard the lion in his den.' There is no time like the present." "No, no, dear Tom," she cried eagerly.