Miss
Harding. It would be a charity, for if you turn me away I shall be at a
loose end all the afternoon. I am like a fish out of water in town!"

"You should return to the country," I said sternly. "It is wasting time
to remain here."

The children caught at the last sentence, naturally applied it to their
own plans, and pranced with renewed impatience.

"Yes! Yes! You said directly after lunch. Put on your hat, Miss
Harding--do put it on! We want to see the bird."

He looked at me, lifted his eyebrows, and smiled as if to say that
further protest was useless, and indeed it seemed that it was. There
was nothing for it but to retire to my room, and put on the boat-shaped
hat, the thick, unbecoming veil, and the badly-cut coat, which aided my
outdoor disguise.

I looked plain to a degree. Nothing in the world can disfigure a woman
more successfully than an unbecoming hat and a cheap black veil, which
imparts a dingy, leaden tint to the complexion. I had every reason to
be satisfied with my disguise that afternoon, but I wasn't. Not a bit!
I felt cross, and irritated, and balked!

We took a taxi and drove straight to the Albert Road entrance, made our
way down the steep incline, under the bridge, and up again towards the
lion houses. Marion and Winifred hung, one on each of Ralph's arms,
chattering in a continuous stream. Child-like, they ignored me in the
fascinations of a new friend; also--and this interested me very much!--
he was charming with them, hitting just the right combination of sense
and nonsense, entering into their ideas, and adapting himself with an
enjoyment which was obviously real, not feigned. I reminded myself that
this was the first time I had seen him in the company of children.

_Mem_. Every woman ought to see a man in several circumstances before
she accepts him as a husband.

1. In his own home.

2. With his dependents. With children and old people. With his best
friend.

3. When he is angry.

4. Tried by the money test.

5. Flirted with by a woman prettier than herself.

We visited the larger animals in turns, and whenever there was a seat
the Squire thoughtfully pressed me to sit down, while the children
pranced about to let off the steam of their enjoyment. After a few
minutes he invariably joined me, and led the conversation to the same
topic. Above the roar of the lions, above the jabber of the monkeys, he
shouted in my ears to know if I were still o