re we met last time. Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye!" She was
running from him backwards, forbidding with a wave his sudden step
towards her. "No, if you dare to move, I shan't meet you on Saturday. Be
good, be good."

By her corner she paused, stood on tiptoe for one provocative instant,
blew a kiss, laughed her elfin laugh and vanished more swift than any
Ariel.

"Damn!" cried Michael sorely, and forthwith set out to walk round West
Kensington at five miles an hour, until his chagrin, his disappointment
and his heartsick emptiness were conquered, or at any rate sufficiently
humbled to make him secure against unmanly tears.

When Saturday finally did arrive, Michael did not sit reading Verlaine,
but wandered from tree-trunk to tree-trunk like Orlando in despair. Then
Lily came at last sedately, and brought the good news that to-morrow
Michael should come to tea at her house.

"But where does your mother think we met?" he asked in perplexity.

"Oh, I told her it was in Kensington Gardens," said Lily carelessly.

"But doesn't she think I must be an awful bounder?"

"Why, you silly, I told her you were at St. James' School."

"But I never told you I was at school," exclaimed Michael, somewhat
aghast.

"I know you didn't, and you never told me that you weren't eighteen
yet."

"I am in a month or two," said Michael. "But, good Lord, who have you
been talking to?"

"Ah, that's the greatest secret in the world," laughed Lily.

"Oh, no, do tell me."

"Well, I know a boy called Drake who knows you."

"That beast!" cried Michael.

"I think he's quite a nice boy. He lives next door to us and----"

Michael kicked angrily the dead leaves lying about his feet, and almost
choked with astonished fury.

"Why, my dear girl, he's absolutely barred. He's as unpopular as anybody
I know. I hope you won't discuss me with that hulking brute. What the
deuce right has he got to tell you anything about me?"

"Because I asked him, and you needn't look so enraged, because if you
want to know why you're coming to tea, it's because I asked Arthur----"

"Who's Arthur?" growled Michael.

"Arthur Drake."

"Go on," said Michael icily.

"I shan't go on, if you look like that."

"I can't help how I look. I don't carry a glass round with me," said
Michael. "So I suppose this worm Drake had the cheek to tell your mother
I was all right. Drake! Wait till I see the brute on Monday morning."

"Well, if you take my advice," said Lil