he
pair standing together on the museum verandah, and, to her horror, she
saw, even in that light, that Mildred's arm was round Arthur's neck,
and her head was resting on his heart. Standing aghast, she saw more;
for presently Mildred raised her hand, and, drawing Arthur's head down
to the level of her own, kissed him upon the face.

There was no doubt about it, it was a most deliberate kiss--a kiss
without any extenuating circumstances. He was not even going away, and
Agatha could only come to one conclusion, that they were either going
to be married--or "they ought to be."

She sought no more beetles that evening, but on the following morning,
when Mildred departed to see the housemaid, leaving Arthur and herself
together on the verandah, she thought it was her "duty" to seek a
little information.

"Arthur," she said, with a beating heart, "I want to ask you
something. Are you engaged to Mildred?"

He hesitated, and then answered.

"No, I suppose not, Miss Terry."

"Nor married to her?"

"No; why do you ask?"

"Because I think you ought to be."

"I quite agree with you. I suppose that you have noticed something?"

"Yes, I have. I saw her kissing you, Arthur."

He blushed like a girl.

"Oh, Arthur," she went on, bursting into tears, "don't let this sort
of thing go on, or poor Mildred will lose her reputation; and you must
know what a dreadful thing that is for any woman. Why don't you marry
her?"

"Because she refused to marry me."

"And yet--and yet she kisses you--like that!" added Miss Terry, as the
peculiar fervour of the embrace in question came back to her
recollection. "Ah, I don't know what to think."

"Best not think about it at all, Miss Terry. It won't bear
reflection."

"Oh, Arthur, how could you?"

He looked very uncomfortable as he answered--

"I know that I must seem a dreadful brute to you. I daresay I am; but,
Miss Terry, it would, under all the circumstances, be much more to the
point, if you insisted on Mildred's marrying me."

"I dare not. You do not know Mildred. She would never submit to it
from me."

"Then I must; and, what is more, I will do it now."

"Thank you, Arthur, thank you. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to
you."

"There is no need to be grateful to the author of this mischief."

"And supposing she refuses--what will you do then?"

"Then I think that I shall go away at once. Hush! here she comes."

"Well, Arthur, what are you and Agatha plotting t