vaguely
for an excuse, while Mrs. Dollond turned to her husband with a look
which demanded corroboration of her speech.

"Yes, Mr. Rainham, do come, if you possibly can," supplemented Mr.
Dollond, coming forward in burlesque obedience. "We are boring each
other horribly--I can answer for myself--and it would be an act of
real charity."

"Well, Hugh, I am ashamed of you! You really ought not to say such
things. If you can't behave better than that, you may go on
maltreating those thistles. I declare we have left a regular trail
of heads in our wake,--like the Revolution, or Judge Jeffreys."

"Bloody Jeffreys!" suggested Mr. Dollond mildly.

His wife turned to Rainham with the little despairing gesture which
she reckoned one of her most effective mannerisms.

"Is not he dreadful? But you _will_ come, Mr. Rainham? I am sure you
know all about systems, and--and things. You know I insist on
winning; so I must have a system, mustn't I?"

"Ah, Mrs. Dollond," said her companion humorously, "you remind me
that the only system I have is a very bad one. I am afraid my doctor
would not trust me with it at Monaco."

"Oh!" said Mrs. Dollond reflectively; "but you need not gamble, you
know! You can help me, and see that I don't get cheated. Hugh and I
will see your doctor, and promise to take care of you. Hugh shall
carry your shawl--he likes carrying shawls."

"He is getting used to it," interposed her husband dryly.

"Ah, well, that is settled," continued the lady gaily, leaving her
victim no time to formulate more than the lamest of protests.

By this time they had reached the middle of the cape, and they stood
for a moment by the lazy fountain looking down at the Marina
straggling below the palms; and beyond, at the outline of the French
coast, with white Mentone set in it, precisely, like a jewel.

"The dear little place!" cried Mrs. Dollond in a rapture; "I suppose
Monaco is behind that cape. I wish we could see it. And it would not
look a bit wicked from here. I declare, I should like to live
there!"

"I've no doubt you would, my dear!" said her husband; "but you
sha'n't, so long as I have any voice in the matter. I don't get so
much for my pictures that I can afford to contribute to M. Blanc's
support."

Rainham followed the direction of her eyes absently. "I have half a
mind to go with you after all," he said.

"Of course," said Mrs. Dollond; "it will do you worlds of good; we
will drive you over with us t