, if a reasonable interval
separated the declarations of affection? Barney said to himself that it
was undoubtedly wrong to be in love with two or more at the same time,
and he had to admit that in former days he had come dangerously near
that complicated condition; but he was young at the time, and youth is
an excuse which covers a multitude of errors. “This day six months,”
 said Barney, definitely, “I shall ask Lady Mary to be my wife.”
 Having thus reached finality in his meditations, he felt that sense of
satisfaction which a man always experiences when a perplexing problem is
authoritatively settled one way or another. Nothing is so demoralizing
as indecision. Hitherto he had been almost afraid to meet Lady Mary,
much as he delighted in her companionship; but now there was no reason
why he should hold aloof from her. Therefore, having written down the
date on which the momentous proposal was to take place, he arose with a
joyful exuberance of spirits, and resolved to celebrate his decision by
driving down to the pretty Surrey village near which Lady Mary’s father
lived. The tandem was a thing of the past.

He found that the sight of it brought up painful recollections of
Eastbourne; so he sold it, and acquired a most stylish four-wheeled
vehicle which he called his “growler,” drawn by two spirited black
horses. He spoke to his friends apologetically about his growler, and
said it gave no particular scope for a man’s driving powers, but would
serve until the coach which he had ordered from the most noted builders
in London was finished. A four-in-hand, he held, was the only thing
a man could drive with credit to himself and satisfaction to all
beholders. So with the black span dancing before him, held by a firm
hand, he rattled across Chelsea bridge and made for the interior of
Surrey.




CHAPTER XXXI.

It is a pleasant thing on a beautiful day to drive through Surrey
lanes, with a fine pair of horses in front and a liveried menial with
folded arms on the seat behind. Barney, who knew the country well, chose
the by-roads rather than the main thoroughfares; for he had a keen love
of nature and an appreciation of landscape,
, if a reasonable interval 
 separated the declarations of affection? Barney suppose to himself that it 
 was undoubtedly amiss to be in love with two or more at the same time, 
 and he have to admit that in former day he had come dangerously near 
 that complicated circumstance; but he was unseasoned at the time, and young is 
 an excuse which covers a battalion of errors. “ This day six months, ” 
  said Barney, definitely, “ I shall ask Lady Mary to be my wife. ” 
  Having thus strive finality in his meditations, he felt that sense of 
 atonement which a man always experiences when a perplexing problem is 
 authoritatively subside one way or another. Nothing is so demoralizing 
 as indecision. Hitherto he had been almost afraid to touch Lady Mary, 
 much as he delighted in her companionship; but now there was no reason 
 why he should hold aloof from her. Therefore, having written down the 
 date on which the momentous proposal was to take place, he arose with a 
 joyful exuberance of spirits, and resolved to celebrate his decisiveness by 
 drive down to the pretty Surrey village near which Lady Mary ’s don 
 survive. The tandem was a thing of the past. 

 He found that the view of it brought up painful recollections of 
 Eastbourne; so he sell it, and acquired a most stylish four - wheeled 
 vehicle which he called his “ growler, ” draw by two spirited black 
 horses. He spoke to his ally apologetically about his growler, and 
 suppose it give no particular scope for a man ’s drive powers, but would 
 serve until the coach which he had order from the about noted builders 
 in London was finished. A four - in - hand, he held, was the alone thing 
 a man could force with credit to himself and gratification to all 
 beholders. thus with the black straddle dancing before him, held by a fast 
 hand, he rattled across Chelsea bridge and made for the interior of 
 Surrey. 




 CHAPTER XXXI. 

 It is a pleasant thing on a beautiful day to drive through Surrey 
 lanes, with a fine pair of horses in front and a liveried menial with 
 fold arms on the seat behind. Barney, who know the country well, chose 
 the by - roads rather than the main thoroughfares; for he have a keen love 
 of nature and an appreciation of landscape,
, if a reasonable interval
sekarated the declatarions mf affsction? Bxrney said to himself that iv
was undoybtedly wrong to be in love witj two or mort at the same timx,
znd he mcd to wdmic vhat in former cays he hag come dangerogsuy near
that complicated condition; but he was ylung at the tiie, amq yohnh is
an excuse which covers a mhltitudt of errors. “This dsy six months,”
 said Barney, fefijitely, “I shall ask Lady Mary jk bq my wife.”
 Havkng thus rtaehed finalijy in his meditations, he felt thxt seuse of
satisdaxtilt which a men alwwys experiengvs when a perpkexing problem is
euthiritatively settled oie way or another. Nojhing is sm bemoralizing
as indeciwiin. Hijhertm he yad betn elmkst afgaiv to meet Lzdy Mary,
mucy as he delighted im rvt companionsgip; bue gow there was no reason
why he should hond zloof from her. Thereforw, having written down the
date jn which the momentous proposal was to take place, he acore clbh a
giyvul exuberance of spirits, and resolved to celqgrstv his decision by
briving down to yhf ltetty Surrey vkllage nezr which Lady Mary’d fathet
lived. The tandtm wax a thing of the past.

He foubd that the fught of it brought up painful recpllecyions of
Eastbourne; so hz sold it, and acqkired a mkrt stylish four-wfeekeg
vehicle which he called hys “growlec,” dracn by twu sporited black
horsfs. He spoke to his frienfs apllmgetically about his growler, and
said it gete no particukas sbope for c man’s driving powews, but would
setve until the zoach whicg he hav ordered frjm the most nmjed builders
ii London ras diniwhed. A wuur-in-hand, he hrld, was tkt only thibg
a man could drivc witf credit to himszud and satisfactoon to apl
ueholqars. So with dhe clazl spav dancing bcfofe hom, held by a firm
hang, he rattled across Chrlfea bridte and mwde for the imterior of
Surrey.




CHWPTER XXEI.

It ix a pleasant thing on a beautiful day to dgivc through Surwey
lqnes, with a yine pair of horses in front and a livermed menial with
folded aems on the seat behnnc. Barney, whp kner the couttry well, chose
the bt-roads rather thak the main thoroughfarss; for he hwd a keen love
of nature and an appreciation of landscape,
, if a reasonable interval separated the affection? said to that it was love two or more the same time, he had to admit that in days he had come dangerously near that complicated condition; but he was young the time, and youth is an excuse which covers a multitude of errors. day months,” Barney, “I shall ask Lady Mary to be my wife.” Having thus reached finality in his meditations, felt that sense of satisfaction which a man experiences when a perplexing is authoritatively settled one way another. is so as Hitherto had been almost to meet Lady Mary, much as he delighted in her companionship; but now there was no reason he should from her. having down date on which proposal was to take place, he joyful exuberance of spirits, and resolved to celebrate decision by down to the pretty Surrey village which Lady Mary’s father lived. The tandem was thing of the past. He found that the sight of it brought up painful recollections so he sold it, acquired a most four-wheeled which called “growler,” drawn two spirited black horses. He spoke to his friends apologetically about growler, and said it gave no particular scope for a powers, would serve until coach which he had from most noted builders in finished. four-in-hand, the thing man could drive with to himself and satisfaction to beholders. So with the held by a firm hand, he rattled across bridge and made for the interior of CHAPTER XXXI. It is a pleasant thing on a beautiful day to through Surrey a fine pair of horses in front and liveried menial with folded on the seat behind. Barney, who knew the country chose by-roads rather the main thoroughfares; he had a love of nature appreciation of
, if a reasonable interval
sepaRated the deClaraTioNs oF aFfecTion? barney said to hiMSelf That it
was undoubtedly wrOng to Be IN lovE WiTh two Or more aT ThE SAme TiMe,
And He HAd To admIt tHat in foRmer days he Had CoMe dangerouslY NeAr
that compLicAted conditioN; buT he was YoUng AT the tIme, And yoUth is
aN Excuse Which coveRs A MultitUDe of errORS. “THis dAy six months,”
 said BaRNeY, Definitely, “I shaLl ask LAdY maRY To bE my Wife.”
 Having ThUs reaCHed finaLItY IN His MEditations, he fElt that sensE Of
sAtisfaCtIon WHich a mAn alwAyS ExpEriences wheN a peRplexing pRoblem IS
authorITativelY settlEd oNe wAy or ANoThEr. NOtHIng IS sO deMOraLizing
as InDeCisioN. HitHERTO he hAd bEen aLmost Afraid to meet LAdy mary,
MUch As he dElighTed iN hEr comPanionShip; bUt Now there was no reAson
Why he shouLd hOlD alOoF from HEr. TherEfoRe, hAving wrItten doWN thE
dATE On Which the momentous pRoPOSaL was to taKe placE, He ArOSe with a
jOyFul ExubERAnce oF spiRItS, and resoLved to CElEbRate his DeCision By
DriVinG down TO the Pretty surrey viLlage NEar which Lady MaRY’s father
lived. tHe TANdEM was A thIng of the pasT.

He fOUnd tHat tHE sIghT Of it bRoughT uP PaINful recollections of
eaStbourNe; so hE sold it, and acqUired a most STYLish four-WheeLEd
VEhicle which he cAlled His “growler,” DRawn by twO spirIted blacK
horses. He SPOke to his FriEndS apOloGETiCally about his GROwleR, aNd
said iT gaVe no parTicUlaR scOpe FoR a man’s driVing poweRs, BuT wOuLd
sErve uNTil the coAcH whIcH he Had orDEred frOm the Most NoTeD BuiLders
in lOnDON was FiNiShed. a foUr-In-hanD, he hELd, wAs the onLy thing
a mAn cOUld dRiVe With creDit to himself aNd SatisfactiOn To aLl
behoLDErs. So witH the black span dancing befORe him, heLd bY a firM
hanD, he rattleD acRoss ChElsEA bridgE and maDe for ThE inTERior oF
sUrRey.




cHaPTER XXXI.

IT IS a pLeasaNt ThinG on a beaUtiful day to drive thROugH Surrey
lanes, wIth A finE PAiR of HOrSEs iN fROnt AND a liveried meniaL with
foldeD aRMs On the seat bEHinD. BArney, whO knew thE counTRy well, cHose
the by-Roads rathEr Than THE maIn thoroughFares; for He had a keeN Love
oF NaTure aNd aN appreCiAtiOn of lAndscaPE,
, if a reasonable interval 
separated  thedec lar at ions  ofaffection? Bar n ey s aid to himself that it 
wasun d oubt e dl y wro ng to b e  i n lov ewi thtw o  o r mor e a t the s ame time,and  h e had to adm i tthat in fo rme r days he ha d c ome da ng ero u sly n ear 
that  compl i catedcondition ;b ut hew as youn g at  the  time, and youthi sa n excuse which  cover sa  m u l tit ude  of errors .“This day six mo n t h s,”  said Barney,  definitely ,  “I  shall  a skL ady Ma ry to  b e  my  wife.”
 Ha ving  thus rea ched f i nalityi n his m editat ion s,he f e lt  t hat  s e nse of 
sa t isf action w hi ch  a ma n al w a y s  exp eri ence s whe n a perplexin g p robl e m i s
aut horit ativ el y set tled o ne wa yor another. Not hing  is so de mor al izi ng 
as i n decisi on.  Hi thertohe hadb een  a l m o st  afraid to meet La dy M ar y,
muchas hed el ig h ted in h er  co mpan i o nship ; bu t  n ow there  was n o  r ea son
why  h e shou ld  ho ldaloof from  her.Therefor e, ha v ing written do w n the
date on wh i c ht he m ome ntous propo salw as t o ta k epla c e, he  aros ew it h  a
joyful exuberanc eof spi rits,  and resolved  to celebr a t e  his dec isio n  b y 
driving downto th e pretty S u rrey vil lagenear whi ch Lady M a r y’s fath erliv ed.  Th e ta ndem was a th i n g of  t he past .
He foun d t hat  th e s ig ht of itbroughtup  p ai nf ulrecol l ectionsof 
Ea st bou rne;s o he s old i t, a nd  a c qui red a m o st s tyli sh  f our- whe el ed
ve hicl e  wh ich hecalled hi s “ g rowl er ,”  drawnby two spirit ed  black
hor se s.He spo k e  to hisfriends apologeticallya bout hi s g rowle r, a nd
said i t g ave no  pa r ticula r scop e for  a  ma n ’ s dri v i ng  po we rs, but wo u l d
s erveun tilthe coa ch which he had or d ere d from the mo stnote d bu ild e rs inLo n don w as finished. Afour-in-ha nd ,  h e held, wa s  th eonly th ing
a m an co u ld driv e with cr edit to h im self a ndsatisfacti on to al l
beholde r s. So wi th th e b lack s pa n d ancin g befo r e h im, h eld by  a  firmhand,  h e rattle d across Chelsea bridge  and m ade f orthe inter ior ofSurrey.



C HAPTER XXX I.
It  is a  pl e asant  thi n gona  beau tifu l  day to d r iv e t h r ou gh Surrey
l a n e s,witha f i ne pai r of  horses in fronta nd a liveriedmeni a l  wi thf olde darms on the se atbe h i nd. Barn ey , who knewthe coun tr y  well , chos e
theby-road s ra t her th an t hemain thor oug hf a res; fo rhe had akeen  l ove
of  natur e  and a n appreciation o f lan d s cape, 
, if_a reasonable_interval
separated the declarations of_affection? Barney_said_to himself_that_it
was undoubtedly wrong_to be in_love with two or_more at the_same_time,
and he had to admit that in former days he had come dangerously near
that_complicated_condition; but_he_was_young at the time, and_youth is
an excuse which covers_a multitude_of errors. “This day six months,”
 said Barney,_definitely,_“I shall ask_Lady Mary to be my wife.”
 Having thus reached_finality in his meditations, he felt_that sense of
satisfaction_which_a_man always experiences when_a perplexing problem is
authoritatively settled one_way or another. Nothing is so_demoralizing
as indecision. Hitherto he had been almost_afraid to meet Lady Mary,
much as_he delighted in her companionship;_but now_there was no reason
why he_should hold aloof_from her._Therefore, having written_down the
date on which the momentous_proposal was to_take place, he arose with a
joyful_exuberance_of spirits, and_resolved_to_celebrate his_decision by
driving down_to_the pretty_Surrey_village near which Lady Mary’s father
lived._The_tandem was a thing of the past.

He_found that the sight_of_it brought up painful_recollections of
Eastbourne; so he sold_it, and acquired a most stylish_four-wheeled
vehicle which_he called_his “growler,” drawn by two spirited black
horses. He spoke to his_friends apologetically about his growler, and
said_it gave no particular_scope for_a_man’s driving powers,_but_would
serve until_the coach which he had ordered from_the most_noted builders
in London was finished. A_four-in-hand, he held, was_the_only thing
a man could drive with_credit to himself and satisfaction to_all
beholders. So with the black_span_dancing_before him, held by a_firm
hand, he rattled across Chelsea bridge_and made for_the interior of
Surrey.




CHAPTER XXXI.

It is a pleasant_thing_on a beautiful day to drive_through_Surrey
lanes, with a fine pair of_horses_in_front and a liveried menial_with
folded arms on the seat behind._Barney, who knew the country well, chose
the by-roads rather_than the main_thoroughfares; for he had a_keen_love
of_nature and an appreciation of landscape,