tly his junior. "Lord Meyrick--Lady Constance
Bledlow. Will you come, Lady Connie?"

"I don't know what my aunt's engagements are," said Constance stiffly.

The trio had withdrawn into the shade of a wide doorway belonging to an
old Oxford inn. Annette was looking at the windows of the milliner's
shop next door.

"My mother shall do everything that is polite--everything in the world!
And when may I come to call? You have no faith in my manners, I know!"
laughed the young man. "How you did sit upon me at Cannes!" And again
his brilliant eyes, fixed upon her, seemed to be saying all sorts of
unspoken things.

"How has he been behaving lately?" said Constance drily, turning to Lord
Meyrick, who stood grinning.

"Just as usual! He's generally mad. Don't depend on him for anything.
But I hope you'll let me do anything I can for you! I should be only
too happy."

The girl perceived the eager admiration with which the young fellow was
regarding her, and her face relaxed.

"Thank you very much. Of course I know all about Mr. Falloden! At
Cannes, we made a league to keep him in order."

Falloden protested vehemently that he had been a persecuted victim at
Cannes; the butt of Lady Connie and all her friends.

Constance, however, cut the speech short by a careless nod and good-bye,
beckoned to Annette and was moving away, when he placed himself
before her.

"But I hope we shall meet this very night--shan't we?--at the
Vice-Chancellor's party?"

"I don't know."

"Oh, but of course you will be there! The Hoopers are quite sure to
bring you. It's at St. Hubert's. Some old swell is coming down. The
gardens are terribly romantic--and there'll be a moon. One can get away
from all the stuffy people. Do come!"

He gave her a daring look.

"Good-bye," said Constance again, with a slight decided gesture, which
made him move out of her way.

In a few moments, she and her maid were lost to sight on the crowded
pavement.

Falloden threw back his head and laughed, as he and Lord Meyrick pursued
the opposite direction. But he said nothing. Meyrick, his junior by two
years, who was now his most intimate friend in the Varsity, ventured at
last on the remark--

"Very good-looking! But she was certainly not very civil to you, Duggy!"

Falloden flushed hotly.

"You think she dislikes me? I'll bet you anything you please she'll be
at the party to-night."

* * * * *

Constance and her maid hu