m."

"Don't you think it for one little minute. It was a neat bit of work."

CHAPTER X

THE SPIRIT Of CANADA

Whatever it was that rendered it necessary for Duckworth to "see the
fellows," that necessity vanished in the presence of Nora.

"Are you going to take in the polo?" he asked.

"Am I? Am I going to continue breathing?" cried Nora. "Come along,
Mother, we must go if we are to get a good place."

"May I find one for you," said Mr. Duckworth, quite forgetting that he
"must see the fellows," and thinking only of his good luck in falling
in with such a "stunning-looking girl." He himself had changed into
flannels, and with his athletic figure, his brown, healthy face, brown
eyes and hair, was a thoroughly presentable young man. He found a place
with ease for his party, a dozen people offering to make room for them.
As Mr. Duckworth let his eyes rest upon the young lady at his side his
sense of good-fortune grew upon him, for Nora in white pique skirt and
batiste blouse smartly girdled with a scarlet patent leather belt, in
white canvas shoes and sailor hat, made a picture good to look at. Her
dark olive brown skin, with rich warm colour showing through the sunburn
of her cheeks, her dark eyes, and her hair for once "done up in style"
under Kathleen's supervision, against the white of her costume made
her indeed what her escort thought, "a stunning-looking girl." Usually
careless as to her appearance, she had yielded to Kathleen's persuasion
and had "gotten herself up to kill." No wonder her friends of both sexes
followed her with eyes of admiration, for no one envied Nora, her frank
manner, her generous nature, her open scorn at all attempts to win
admiration, made her only friends.

"Bring your mother over here," cried Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, who rejoiced
exceedingly in the girl's beauty. "Why, how splendidly you are looking
to-day," she continued in a more confidential tone as the party grouped
themselves about her. "What have you been doing to yourself? You are
looking awfully fine."

"Am I?" said Nora, exceedingly pleased with herself. "I am awfully glad.
It is all Kathleen's doing. I got me the belt and the hat new for this
show."

"Very smart, that belt, my dear," said her friend.

"I rather fancy it myself, and Kathleen would do up my hair in this new
way," said Nora, removing her hat that the full glory of her coiffure
might appear. "Do you like it?"

"Perfectly spiffing!" ejaculated Mr. Duckw