End of the State of Indecision 247

“‘You are a hopeless old bachelor, I see,” said
Gavin, unaware that the doctor was probing him.
He was surprised next moment to find McQueen
in the ecstasies of one who has won a rubber.

“ Now, then,” cried the jubilant doctor, “as
you have confessed so much, tell me all about
her. Name and address, please.”

“Confess! What have I confessed?”

“It won’t do, Mr. Dishart, for even your face
betrays you. No, no, I] am an old bird, but I
have not forgotten the ways of the fledgelings.
‘ Hopeless bachelor,’ sir, is a sweetmeat in every
young man’s mouth until of a sudden he finds it
sour, and that means the banns. When is it to
bers’

“We must find the lady first,” said the minis-
ter, uncomfortably.

“You tell me, in spite of that face, that you
have not fixed on her?”

“The difficulty, I suppose, would be to per-
suade her to fix on me.”

“Not a bit of it. But you admit there is some
one?”

“Who would have me?”

“You are-wriggling out of it. Is it the
banker’s daughter?”

“No,” Gavin cried.

“] hear you have walked up the back wynd
with her three times this week. The town is in
a ferment about it.”

“She is a great deal in the back wynd.”

“ Fiddle-de-dee! JI am oftener in the back
wynd than you, and I never meet her there.”

“That is curious,”