AlanandBarbarasatinMr。Champers-Haswell’sprivatesitting-roomwiththeawfuldecorations，andbeforethembythefireMr。Champers-
Haswellreclineduponhiscouch。Alaninafew，brief，soldier-likewordshadjustinformedhimofhisengagementtoBarbara。DuringtherecitalofthisinterestingfactBarbarasaidnothing，butMr。Haswellhadwhistledseveraltimes。Nowatlengthhespoke，inthattoneofforcedgenialitywhichhegenerallyadoptedtowardshiscousin。
“Youareaskingforthehandofaconsiderableheiress，Alanmyboy，“
hesaid，“butyouhaveneglectedtoinformmeofyourownposition。“
“Whereistheuseoftellingyouwhatyouknowalready，Mr。Haswell？I