said, "you are very polite. You stand as if you were
nailed to the ground, instead of running after my hat."

I did not suffer her to say this twice, but, running after the
ugly old hat, caught it just before it could disappear in one of
the sand pits. She followed me, but unfortunately caught the train
of her riding-habit in a bush, which tripped her, and caused her to
fall with her beautiful locks of hair amongst the briers. At first
she refused all assistance, but in the end she was obliged to let me
disentangle her hair--a circumstance which annoyed her much more than
the accident itself. I knelt beside her, and heaven knows with what
care I loosened one lock after the other. This, however, was a work
of time, as she was very impatient, and her struggles were every now
and then undoing the little I had accomplished.

"Now you see into what a predicament your precious advice has brought
me; how much more practical my own arrangement was! The handkerchief
looked inelegant, if you like, but it would have prevented me this
trouble. Why did I swerve from my principles? Why was I led astray
by other people's ideas?"

At last I could say, "You are free!" at the same time holding out
my hand to assist her in rising. But no, she would have no further
aid from me; and bounding up like a hart, requested me to walk on
in front whilst she arranged her dress. She was not long about it,
and when she overtook me the hateful handkerchief was tied round her
hat again, and I had lost my right to protest against it.

She now took my arm of her own accord, and said gaily, "This I do,
Leo, to recompense you for being so generous as not to revenge yourself
by laughing at me in my distress."

"Laugh at you, Francis! I was frightened."

"There was not much to be frightened about; but I was really afraid
you would mock me and pay me back in my own coin."

As we walked on we continued to discuss the subject of female
propriety, she claiming the right to live according to her own ideas,
without any regard for public opinion; I maintaining that reserve
and gentleness are more becoming in a woman, from every point of
view, than trying to set public opinion at defiance. She, however,
interrupted the conversation by pointing out the Werve to me as soon
as we came in sight of it.

"Now," she said, "I request you to tell me plainly the object of your
visit to the General, before I introduce you to the house."

"I have already told you: I