te is bad
enough!" Her eyes dwelt for a moment on Margaret. "And Margaret tells me
that she's made a conquest of Mr. Alison, and, as a consequence, is
going in for all manner of good works."

Cartmell did not follow the connection of her thoughts, and she laughed
again at that.

"I'm quite serious about it, Jenny," Margaret protested.

"Of course you are, my dear, I'm very glad of it. And I believe it would
appeal even to Lady Aspenick!"

At last we were alone together--just before I said good night.

"Margaret has told me some of her impressions. What are yours?" she
asked.

"I think that, on the whole, we did fairly well. I also think that
Margaret and I between us pretty well let the cat out of the bag."

"Oh, you did! How was the animal liked?"

"It was pronounced ridiculous--on all grounds ridiculous!"

"Was it? We shall see." Jenny looked dangerous.

"But all the same it was thought better than--the fox."

"Ah!" she cried eagerly. "Better than the fox!" Her eyes sparkled. "Tell
me all you can remember."

I told her my tale, not forgetting what had passed between Fillingford
and myself when we were alone.

"Not so bad! I think we'll go ahead now!" said Jenny.

CHAPTER XXIV

A CHANCE FOR THE ROMANTIC

All was as ready as all could be made. The plans were laid, the
approaches prepared, the battalions marshaled. For so much a commander
must wait--a good one waits no longer. We went ahead. The Thursday which
Jenny had forecasted as likely to be busy turned out to be busy in fact.
One thing happened for which she gave the word--another which, as I am
persuaded, did not surprise her very much. It had to come--it had better
be over and done with. In all likelihood she gave the word for this
second thing also.

How were these words given? Ah, there I am out of my depth. In our
relations to the other sex we men are naturally on the aggressive. The
man pursued of woman exists no doubt--but as an abnormality--a queer
by-product of a civilization intent on many things non-natural. The
normal man is on the attack, and ignorant, by consequence, of the
minutiae of the science of defense. Whether the intent be surrender, or
whether it be that the moment has come for a definitive repulse of the
main attack, there are, no doubt, preliminary operations. Scouts are
called in, pickets withdrawn, skirmishes retired; all these have served
their function--have given information, have foretold the attack, have