iscourse national airs, and you would be able to bore yourself to
death in comfort, for the simple reason that every one would talk, eat,
drink, and behave just as respectably as his neighbour. Half the fun
of moving about the world, as I understand it, lies in the studies of
character presented by one's fellow-creatures. But, see, the boat is
alongside; let us go ashore while it is fine."

Beautiful as Merok undoubtedly is, it must be admitted that its
amusements are, to say the least of it, limited. You can lunch at the
hotel, explore the curious little octagonal church, and, if you are a
walker, climb the road that crosses the mountains to Grotlid. The
views, however, are sublime, for the mountains rise on every hand,
giving the little bay the appearance of an amphitheatre.

"What programme have you mapped out for us?" inquired Miss Verney, who,
as was known to her companions, preferred an easy-chair and a
flirtation on the deck of the yacht to any sort of athletic exercise
ashore.

Browne thereupon explained that the Duchess, who was dressed in
appropriate walking costume, had arranged everything. They were to
visit the church, do the regulation sights, and, finally, make their
way up the hillside to the Storfos Waterfall, which is the principal,
and almost the only, attraction the village has to offer. The usual
order of march was observed. The Duchess and the Ambassador, being the
seniors of the party, led the way; the lady's two daughters, escorted
by Barrington-Marsh and Jimmy Foote--who was too obvious a detrimental
to be worth guarding against--came next; Maas, Mrs. and Miss Dobson
followed close behind them; Miss Verney and Browne brought up the rear.

Everything went merrily as a marriage bell. After those who had
brought their cameras had snap-shotted the church, and made the usual
mistake with regard to the angles, the party climbed the hill in the
direction of the waterfall. It was only when they reached it that
those in front noticed that Miss Verney had joined the trio next before
her, and that Browne had disappeared. He had gone back to the boat,
the lady explained, in order to give some instructions that had been
forgotten. From her silence, however, and from the expression of
annoyance upon her beautiful lace, the others immediately jumped to the
conclusion that something more serious must have happened than her
words implied. In this case, however, popular opinion was altogether
at f