And her breath seemed to catch.

"Girls like kissing," said Tinker in a tone of a dispassionate
observer. Then he seemed to thrust the matter away from him with some
eagerness: and, slipping her arm through his, he said, "Come on, let's
walk up and down."

They walked up and down, chattering away, till eight o'clock. Then he
said, "My father will be expecting me; he dines at eight. Won't you
come too?"

"No, no, thank you. I must wait for Uncle Richard; I must really."
But her arm tightened round his involuntarily.

Tinker thought a while. The gardens were brighter now. The stars were
shining with their full radiance, and the lamps were alight, so that
even their retired corner was faintly bright.

"Well, you go on walking up and down. You won't feel so lonely as
sitting still, and I'll be back as soon as I can;" he said, and off he
went.

He found his father and Lord Crosland beginning their soup, and,
sitting down, he told them of Elsie's plight. They were duly
sympathetic; and his father at once gave him leave to take some dinner
to her, and dine with her. Thereupon, after a brief but serious
conference with the manager, Tinker departed, again followed by a
waiter with a tray. Elsie had not looked for his return for a long
while; and she was indeed pleased to be so soon freed from the struggle
against her timidity.

They ate their dinner with great cheerfulness and good appetite, and
for an hour after it they chattered away happily. Then Elsie grew
drowsy, very drowsy, indeed, and presently, nestled against Tinker, she
fell asleep. Fortunately, the southern night was warm, and, in the
fur-lined ulster, she could take no harm. He sat holding her to him,
listening to her breathing, looking out over the sea, and revolving
many memories and more schemes, till, at last, the lights began to
dance before his eyes, and he, too, fell asleep.

He knew no more until he was awakened by someone shaking his arm, and
found his father and Lord Crosland standing over them.

The lamps of the Casino and the gardens were out; only the dim
starlight lighted the scene. The two children sat up and stared about
them--Elsie sleepily, Tinker wide awake.

"We've found you at last. Hasn't your little friend's uncle come for
her?" said Sir Tancred.

"No one has come," said Tinker.

Sir Tancred and Lord Crosland looked at one another.

"Desertion," murmured Lord Crosland softly.

"Well, come along," said Sir Tan