up for being good-
looking. What a strange idea. But I dare say you are right, it is only
one of my theories based upon my own casual observations, and, after
all, men are not a very interesting subject, are they? Let's talk of
something more exciting--dresses, for instance."

But poor Maria was too uncomfortable and disturbed to talk of anything
else, so she collapsed into silence, and shortly after Mr. and Mrs.
Bellamy and George made their adieux.

Meanwhile Philip and Hilda had been walking leisurely down the
shrubberies adjoining the house.

"Why have you come out?" she asked in German, a language he understood
well.

"To walk with you. Why do you speak to me in German?"

"Because it is my pleasure to do so, and I never asked you to walk
with me. You are wanted in the drawing-room, you had better go back."

"No, I won't go, Hilda; that is, not until you have promised me
something."

"Do not call me Hilda, if you please. I am the Fraulein von
Holtzhausen. What is it you want me to promise?"

"I want you to meet me this evening at nine o'clock in the summer-
house."

"I think, Mr. Caresfoot, that you are forgetting a little what is due
to me, to yourself, and--to Miss Lee?"

"What do you mean by due to Miss Lee?"

"Simply that she is in love with you, and that you have encouraged her
in her affection; you need not contradict me, she tells me all about
it."

"Nonsense, Hilda; if you will meet me to-night, I will explain
everything; there is no need for you to be jealous."

She swept round upon him, tossing her head, and stamping her dainty
foot upon the gravel.

"Mr. Caresfoot," she said, "once and for all I am not jealous, and I
will not meet you; I have too much respect for myself, and too little
for you," and she was gone.

Philip's face, as he stood looking after her, was not pleasant to see;
it was very hard and angry.

"Jealous, is she? I will give her something to be jealous for, the
proud minx;" and in his vexation he knocked off the head of a
carnation with his stick.

"Philip, what _are_ you doing? Those are my pet Australian carnations;
at least, I think they are Australian. How can you destroy them like
that?"

"All right, Maria; I was only plucking one for you. Won't you put it
in your dress? Where are the others?"

"They have all gone. Come in, it is so hot out there; and tell me what
you think of Mrs. Bellamy."

"I think that she is very handsome and very clever. I wonder wh