hter.

"'You pretended not to know her! Oh, dear! oh, dear!' and her laughter
echoed among the trees again. 'I saw her looking at you, and you ate
on like a pig! Oh, dear! oh, dear!'

"'Stop laughing!' said I savagely.

"'Oh, I'm very sorry, but I can't. What a scrape you've go into! Oh,
me!' And she wiped her eyes (they were as blue as her cloak) with a
delicate bit of a handkerchief.

"'You shan't laugh,' said I. 'Who were your notes for?'

"'Somebody I expected. He hasn't come. The waiter took you for him, I
suppose. I never thought of his being so stupid. Oh, what a brute she
must have thought you!' And she began to laugh again.

"I had had enough of it. I hate being laughed at.

"'If you go on laughing,' said I, 'I'll kiss you again.'

"The threat was a failure; she did not appear at all alarmed.

"'Not you!' she said, laughing worse than ever.

"I should like you fellows to understand that my heart never wavered in
its allegiance to Lady Mary--my conscience is quite clear as to
that--but I had pledged my word. I caught that tiresome girl round the
waist and I kissed her once--I'm sure of once, anyhow. She gasped and
struggled, laughing still. Then, with a sudden change of voice, she
cried, 'Stop', stop!'

"I let her go. I looked round. We had a gallery of spectators. On one
side stood the ugly-headed valet; on the other, in attitudes of horror,
Mary and Miss Dibbs!

"'You've ruined us both now,' said the girl in blue.

"I rose to my feet and was about to explain, when the ugly fellow
rushed at me, brandishing a cane. I had quite enough to arrange
without being bothered by him. I caught the cane in my left hand, and
with my right I knocked him down.

"Then I walked up to Lady Mary. I took no heed of Miss Dibbs'
presence; it was too critical a moment to think of trifles.

"'Lady Mary,' said I, 'appearances are so much against me that you
cannot possibly attach the slightest weight to them.'

"'Sir,' said she, 'I have no longer the honor of your acquaintance. I
have only to thank you for having had the consideration not to
recognize me when we met so unexpectedly in the dining room. Pray
continue to show me the same favor.'

"With which pleasant little speech she turned on her heel. It was
clear that she suspected me most unjustly. I turned to the girl in
blue, but she was beforehand with me.

"'Ah, I wish I'd never see you,' she cried, 'you great, stupid
creature! He [