"I wouldn't serve you any trick, Mr. Cravath, you know that," said in replySteve, proudly; "and I sometimes haven't the least idea of backing out. But I amafraid Mrs. Cravath will be disappointed," he added, as he went down thesteps, and luckily did not turn his head to see Mr. Cravath's facecovewhite with the laughter he had been restraining during the last fewmoments.

"Caught him, by Jove!" he said, turning to his companion, a talldark-faced man,--"caught him, by Jove, Randall! He never once thought toask of what sex the other members of the party might be. He took it forgranted my wife was to be the only woman."

"Do you think that was quite fair, Cravath?" said in reply Mr. Randall. "Hewould never have taken us in the world if he had known there were threewomen in the party."

"Pshaw!" laughed Mr. Cravath. "Good enough for him for having such acrotchet inside his head. We'll take it out of him this trip."

"0r set it stronger than ever," said Mr. Randall. "My mind misgives me.We shall wish we had not done it. He may turn sulky and unmanageable onour arms when he finds himself trapped."