she explained the geography of the district,
pointed out that away south it was all open country until you came to
Marylebone Road. And was it not wonderful how fresh and bracing the
air seemed up here, even on a summer's evening; you could easily
imagine yourself miles and miles away from London. Did he care for the
country? She did not. For one thing, the people there had such an odd
way of speaking that it was a trouble to realize what they were driving
at. She sometimes wondered whether they understood each other.

"You're letting me do all the talk," she remarked, as they took seats
in the enclosed space at the top of the hill. Boys were playing on the
slopes, punctuating the game with frequent disputes. A young couple
seated near a tree attracted her notice; the girl's eyes were closed,
head resting on the shoulder of the young man, who had an aspect of
gloomy resignation.

"Sillies some people make of themselves, don't they?" she said.

"I suppose we are, most of us, ludicrous to other people."

"Do you laugh at me sometimes?"

"No, no," he said earnestly; "I like you too much to do that."

"You think you're a bit fond of me," she said, gazing ahead and
speaking deliberately, "because I'm different from most of the girls
you're in the habit of meeting, and my ways make a change for you.
That's about all. You'd soon get tired of me and my manner if we saw
much of each other. I know it won't last."

"I shall not trouble to contradict that," he remarked good-temperedly,
"because I know you don't believe it yourself. Why, it would be
absolutely splendid to be always with you."

Another couple walked by, breathless after the climb. Gertie,
recognizing her friend Miss Radford, nodded; and that young lady, after
a short scream of astonishment, gave a bow, and nudged her blushing
companion as an instruction to imitate the example by raising his hat.

"I'm glad she's seen us," said Gertie. "Didn't the young fellow turn
red?"

"He's a junior clerk in my office."

"What a score for me!" she cried exultantly. "I've a good mind to ask
you now what you do for a living exactly, only that I'd rather find
everything out bit by bit."

"You queer little person," he said affectionately. "Tell me instead
about yourself. What is a day like at your place of business? Do you
mind--it helps to concentrate my attention--if I hold your hand whilst
you talk?"

"Why should I?" asked Gertie.

There could be n