re?"

"I--I meant the Baron, mamma."

"But I have just been saying that he was _unusually_ clever."

"But I thought, I mean it seemed as though you considered him only well
informed."

Lady Alicia's blushes and confusion deepened. Her mother looked at her
with a softening eye. Suddenly she rose, kissed her affectionately, and
said with the tenderness of triumph, "My _dear_ girl! Of course he is;
clever, well informed, and a most _desirable_ young man. My Alicia could
not do----"

She stopped, as if she thought this was perhaps a little premature (though
the Countess's methods inclined to the summary and decisive), and again
kissing her daughter affectionately, remarked gaily, "Let me see, why,
it's almost time we went for our little walk! We mustn't really disappoint
those young men. I am in the middle of such an amusing discussion with Mr
Bunker, who is really a very sensible man and quite worthy of the Baron's
judgment."

Poor Lady Alicia hardly knew whether to feel more relieved at her escape
or dismayed at the construction put upon her explanation. She went out to
meet the Baron, determined to give no further colour to her mother's
unlucky misconception. The Countess was far too experienced and determined
a general to leave it at all doubtful who should walk by whose side, and
who should have the opportunity of appreciating whose merits, but Lady
Alicia was quite resolved that the Baron's blandishments should fall on
stony ground.

But a soft heart and an undecided mouth are treacherous companions. The
Baron was so amiable and so gallant, that at the end of half an hour she
was obliged to abate the strictness of her resolution. She should treat
him with the friendliness of a brother. She learned that he had no
sisters: her decision was confirmed.

The enamoured and delighted Baron was in the seventh heaven of happy
loquacity. He poured out particulars of his travels, his more recordable
adventures, his opinions on various social and political matters, and at
last even of the family ghost, the hereditary carpet-beatership, and the
glories of Bavaria. And Lady Alicia listened with what he could not doubt
was an interest touched with tenderness.

"I wonder," she said, artlessly, "that you find anything to admire in
England--compared with Bavaria, I mean."

"Two zings I haf not zere," replied the Baron, waving his hand round
towards the horizon. "Vun is ze vet sheet of flowing sea--says not your
poet so? Ze