But no--surely it can't be possible." "Were you in London last season ?" "No." "Well, how do you know but that she was there ?" "By Jove!" "And the belle of the season, too ?" "She would be if she were there, by Jove!" "Yes, if there wasn't another present that I wot of." "Well, we won't argue about that; besides, I haven't come to the point yet." "The point ?" "Yes, the real reason why I'm here, when I'm wanted home." "The real reason?
Why, haven't you been telling it to me all along ?" "Well, no; I haven't got to the point yet." "Drive on, then, old man." "Well, you know," continued Hawbury, "after hunting all through Canada I gave up in despair, and concluded that Ethel was lost to me, at least for the present.

That was only about six or seven months ago.

So I went home, and spent a month in a shooting-box on the Highlands; then I went to Ireland to visit a friend; and then to London.

While there I got a long letter from my mother.

The good soul was convinced that I was wasting my life; she urged me to settle down, and finally informed me that she had selected a wife for me.