g you, or not go at all. You see Mary--Miss
Loriner--is only a companion at Morden Place. She couldn't have asked
me on her own responsibility."

The girl closed her eyes and snuggled back in the corner. If Henry
exhibited any special sign of affection, she would have to draw herself
up to her full height and say, "Mr. Douglass, you're evidently not
aware that you are speaking to an engaged lady." If he went so far as
to propose marriage, the situation would be still more dramatic. "Mr.
Douglass, you appear to have left it too late. I am already pledged to
another!" There were alternative remarks prepared, and she felt
certain that any one of them would be telling and effective. Clearly,
he wanted to see her; otherwise so much trouble would not have been
expended over the present visit; it was her business to make him see
that a London girl was not to be taken up and dropped, and taken up
again.

"Manners," she said resolutely, opening her eyes, and addressing a
barge on the canal, "manners. That's what some people have got to be
taught!"

The short train brought them slowly to the one platform of the station,
and before she realized it, Henry Douglass was holding both of her
hands, and looking down at her affectionately. He turned to give a
welcome to her cousin, and Gertie told herself there was no necessity,
for the present, to be dignified or reserved; that could come later.
Outside the station, Miss Loriner was talking to a horse that seemed
impatient to make its way in the direction of home; she and Clarence
took seats at the back of the dogcart with a light rug spread over
knees; they made no complaint of overcrowding.

"Can you really drive?" inquired Gertie with anxiety. "You never used
to speak about it when Mr. Trew was talking."

"Life," answered Henry Douglass, "is too short to allow one to brag
about everything. I do the best I can." They took the corner and went
at a good pace through the town. "By Jove," he went on,
enthusiastically, "you have no idea how I've missed you."

The first of the selected reproofs would have come in here
appropriately, but a motor car was coming in the opposite direction
with, as it seemed to her, the definite intention of running into their
conveyance; she grabbed nervously at Henry's arm. When she looked
again the car had gone, leaving dust as a slight memento of the
encounter.

"Don't take it away!" he begged.

Here again either of the sentences mi