herself certainly
undertook no such research. It was not her habit to analyze her motives;
and, if asked the reasons of her conduct, she would no doubt have
replied that she sought Stafford because she liked him. Perhaps, if
further pressed, she would have admitted that she found him occasionally
a useful refuge against attentions from two other quarters which she
found it necessary to avoid; in the one case because she would have
liked them, in the other for exactly the opposite reason.

It cannot, however, be supposed that this latter line of diplomacy could
be permanently successful. When you only meet your suitor at dances or
operas, it may be no hard task to be always surrounded by a
_chevaux-de-frise_ of other admirers. We have all seen that maneuver
brilliantly and patiently executed. But when you are staying at a
country house with any man of average pertinacity, I make bold to say
that nothing short of taking to bed can be permanently relied upon. If
this is the case with the ordinary man, how much more does it hold good
when the assailant is one like Haddington--a man of considerable
address, unbounded persistence, and limitless complacency? There came a
time when Claudia's forced marches failed her, and she had to turn and
give battle. When the moment came she was prepared with an audacious
plan of campaign.

She had walked down to the village one morning, attended by Haddington
and protected by Bob, to buy for Mrs. Lane a fresh supply of worsted
wool, a commodity apparently necessary to sustain that lady's life, and
was returning at peace, when Bob suddenly exclaimed:

"By Jove! Tobacco! Wait for me!" and, turning, fled back whence he came,
at full speed.

Claudia made an attempt at following him, but the weather was hot and
the road dusty, and, confronted with the alternative of a _tete-a-tete_
and a damaged personal appearance, she reluctantly chose the former.

Haddington did not let the grass grow under his feet. "Well," he said,
"it won't be unpleasant to rest a little while, will it? Here's a dry
bank."

Claudia never wasted time in dodging the inevitable. She sat down.

"I am very glad of this opportunity," Haddington began, in such a tone
as a man might use if he had just succeeded in moving the adjournment.
"It's curious how little I have managed to see of you lately, Lady
Claudia."

"We meet at least five times a day, Mr. Haddington--breakfast, lunch,
tea--"

"I mean when you are alone.