s face change from its look of formal gravity to one of
rapturous delight, was to Myra well worth the long effort of sitting
immovable. He flung himself down before her with boyish abandon, and
clasped both herself and her chair in his long arms.

"Oh, you darling!" he said, bending his face over hers, while his blue
eyes danced with delight. "Oh, Myra, what centuries since yesterday! How
I have longed for you. I almost hoped you would after all have come to
the station. How I have grudged wasting all this time in coming to call
on old Lady Ingleby. Myra, has it seemed long to you? Do you realise, my
dear girl, that it _can't_ go on any longer; that we cannot possibly live
through another twenty-four hours of separation? But oh, you Tease! There
was I, ramping with impatience at every wasted moment; and here were you,
sitting under this tree, hiding your face and pretending to be Lady
Ingleby! The astonished and astonishing old party in the eyebrows,
certainly pointed you out as Lady Ingleby when he started me off on my
pilgrimage. I say, how lovely you look! What billowy softness! It
wouldn't do for cliff-climbing; but its A.I. for sitting on lawns.... I
can't help it! I must!"

"Jim," said Myra, laughing and pushing him away; "what has come to you,
you dearest old boy? You will really have to behave! We are not in the
honeysuckle arbour. 'The astonishing old party in the eyebrows' is most
likely observing us from a window, and will have good cause to look
astonished, if he sees you 'carrying on' in such a manner. Jim, how nice
you look in your town clothes. I always like a grey frock-coat. Stand up,
and let me see.... Oh, look at the green of the turf on those immaculate
knees! What a pity. Did you don all this finery for me?"

"Of course not, silly!" said Jim Airth, rubbing his knees vigorously.
"When I haul you up cliffs, I wear old Norfolk coats; and when I duck you
in the sea, I wear flannels. I considered this the correct attire in
which to pay a formal call on Lady Ingleby; and now, before she has had a
chance of being duly impressed by it, I have spoilt my knees hopelessly,
worshipping at your shrine! Where is Lady Ingleby? Why doesn't she keep
her appointments?"

"Jim," said Myra, looking up at him with eyes full of unspeakable love,
yet dancing with excitement and delight; "Jim, do you admire this
place?"

"This place?" cried Jim, stepping back a pace, so as to command a good
view of the lake and woods b