ng more.

"Oh, Ralph, you dear! How angelic of you! I should love it of all
things. It's so close and stuffy in this garden. It will be perfectly
delicious to have a blow. Which way shall we go?"

"If you are not in a hurry we might get as far as the ponds." He
paused, frowned, glanced hesitatingly towards me. "Perhaps Miss
Wastneys--Is there any special place you would like to see?"

"Dearest!" the Vicar's voice broke gently into the conversation, "I'm
sorry, but was not it this afternoon you arranged to meet Mrs Rawlins
at the `Hall,' to discuss the new coverings for the library books? I
think you said half-past five. It is nearly five now. You would not
have time."

"I can send down word that I can't come. I'll meet her to-morrow at the
same time."

"I think not." The Vicar's face set; his voice did not lose its gentle
tone, but it was full of decision. "I think not. Mrs Rawlins is a
busy woman, and she has a long distance to come. You would not wish to
inconvenience her for the sake of a trifling pleasure!"

Delphine gave him a look, the look of a thwarted child, flushed to the
roots of her hair, and turned hastily aside. Open rebellion was
useless, but it spoke in every line of her body, every movement of the
small, graceful head. I was sorry for her, for being young and feminine
myself, I could understand how dull was the claim of linen covers for
injured bindings, compared with that swift, exhilarating rush. I looked
at the Vicar, and began pleadingly, "Couldn't I--"; then the Squire
looked at me, pulled out his watch, and said sharply:--

"Ten minutes to five. Hurry up, Delphine! If you put on your hat at
once you can have half an hour. It will freshen you up for your duties.
I'll land you at the `Hall,' and"--he switched his eyes on me with a
keen, gimlet-like glance--"take Miss Wastneys a little further while you
are engaged."

I blinked, but did not speak; Delphine frowned; the Vicar said happily,
"That will do well. That will do very well! Now, darling, we shall all
be pleased!"

Deluded man! Two less-pleased-looking females it would have been
difficult to find, as we made our way to the house, and up the narrow,
twisting staircase. Delphine was injured at the prospective shortness
of her drive; I was appalled at the length of mine. Why had he asked
me? Why hadn't I refused, and what--oh! what should we ever find to
say?

"It's always the same thing; if a bit of pleasu