observed him a moment, and then her tone softened. The colour
deepened yet more in her cheeks. She became at once prettily
embarrassed and prettily sincere.

"And then, to tell you quite the truth, I am a trifle afraid of Aunt
Katherine. I have always wanted to come here and to see you, but--it is
an absurd confession to make--I have been scared at the idea of meeting
Aunt Katherine, and that is the real reason why I made Honoria take
refuge with me in this lovely park of yours, instead of going on with
my father to the house. There is a legend, a thrice accursed legend in
our family,--my mother employs it even yet when she proposes to reduce
me to salutary depths of humility--that I came,--she brought me--here,
once, long ago, when I was a child, and that I was fiendishly naughty,
that I behaved odiously."

Madame de Vallorbes stretched out her hands, presenting the rosy palms
of them in the most engaging manner.

"But it can't--it can't be true," she protested. "Why, in the name of
all folly, let alone all common decency, should I behave odiously? It
is not like me. I love to please, I love to have people care for me.
And so I cannot but believe the legend is the malign invention of some
nurse or governess, whom, poor woman, I probably plagued handsomely
enough in her day, and who, in revenge, rigged up this detestable
scarecrow with which to frighten me. Then, moreover, I have not the
faintest recollection of the affair, and one generally has an only too
vivid memory of one's own sins. Surely, _mon cher cousin_, surely I am
innocent in your sight, as in my own? You do not remember the episode
either?"

Whereupon Dickie, looking down at her,--and still enchanted
notwithstanding his so sinister discovery, being first, and always a
gentleman, and secondly, though as yet unconsciously, a
lover,--proceeded to lie roundly. Lied, too, with a notable
cheerfulness, born as cheerfulness needs must be of every act of faith
and high generosity.

"I remember it? Of course not," he said. "So let the legend be
abolished henceforth and forevermore. Here, once and for all, Cousin
Helen, we combine to pull down and bury that scarecrow."

Madame de Vallorbes clapped her hands softly and laughed. And her
laughter, having the merit of being perfectly genuine--for the young
man very really pleased her fancy--was likewise very infectious.
Richard found himself laughing too, he knew not why, save that he was
glad of heart.

"And