d enjoyed. We get off at Putney, walk
through Roehampton, then over the park into Richmond. By that time we
shall be ready for dinner, and I know a place where we can have it in
comfort."

There was little thought of weariness throughout the delightful walk.
All three gave themselves up for the time to simple enjoyment; their
intercourse became that of children; the troubles of passion, the
miseries of self-consciousness, the strain of mutual observation fell
from them as the city dropped behind; they were once more creatures for
whom the external world alone had reality. There was a glorious June
sky; there were country roads scented with flower and tree; the
wide-gleaming common with its furze and bramble; then the great park,
with felled trunks to rest upon, and prospects of endlessly-varied
green to soothe the eye. The girls exhibited their pleasure each in her
own way. Sally threw off restraint, and sprang about in free happiness,
like one of the young roes, the sight of which made her utter cries
like a delighted child. She remembered scenes of home, and chattered in
her dialect of people and places strange enough to both her companions.
She was in constant expectation of catching a glimpse of the sea; in
spite of all warnings it was a great surprise and disappointment to her
that Richmond Hill did not end in cliffs and breakers. Ida talked less,
but every now and then laughed in her deep enjoyment. She had no
reminiscence of country life it was enough that all about her was new
and fresh and pure; nothing to remind her of Regent Street and the
Strand. Waymark talked of he knew not what, cheerful things that came
by chance to his tongue, trifling stories, descriptions of places,
ideal plans for spending of ideal holidays; but nothing of London,
nothing of what at other times his thoughts most ran upon. He came back
to himself now and then, and smiled as he looked at the girls, but this
happened seldom.

The appetites of all three were beyond denying when they had passed the
"Star and Garter" and began to walk down into the town. Waymark
wondered whither their guide would lead them, but asked no questions.
To his surprise, Ida stopped at a small inn half way down the hill.

"You are to go straight in," she said, with a smile, to Waymark, "and
are to tell the first person you meet that three people want dinner.
There's no choice--roast beef and vegetables, and some pudding or other
afterwards. Then you are to wal