u could take me round. If the
Moffatts have fixed-up a dinner for themselves, some night, we might go
to a theatre together!"

"Um--yes!" Guest surveyed her with doubtful eyes. "I suppose it would
be easy enough to find some other lady to play chaperon."

"I don't want a chaperon. Why should I? It's no fun having her poking
round, and listening to every word one says. It's ever so much nicer
alone."

"I don't doubt it, but--in Rome one must do as the Romans do, Miss
Briskett! In England a man does not take a girl to a theatre
unchaperoned. It's not the thing."

"I don't care a mite. It's the custom with us, anyway, and there's no
country in the world where women are more respected. What's the harm, I
want to know!"

"No harm at all. That's not the question. It's simply not the custom."

"Do you mean to say you refuse to take me alone, even if I ask you?"

"I do!"

"Then you're a mean old thing, and I shan't go at all!"

Guest laughed; an amused little laugh, in which there was an unwonted
softness. Somehow, he quite enjoyed being called "a mean old thing" by
Cornelia Briskett. There was an intimacy in the sound, which more than
nullified the disparagement.

"I think you will! You are too `straight' to punish me for what is not
my fault. It would be much more amusing for me to take you about
unattended, and so far as I'm concerned, I can afford to ignore
conventions. A man can do as he likes. It is you I am thinking of.
You may not approve of our ideas, but that does not alter their
existence, or the fact that whip; you are here you must be judged by
them. You would not like to be considered careless of your reputation?"

"I don't care a mite what the old fossils, think."

"_I_ do, then; and I will take no part in putting you in a false
position."

Cornelia pouted, but in her heart admired his firmness, as any woman
would. She stared at the forest of chimney-tops without speaking, for
several minutes, then suddenly turned towards him, speaking in what was
evidently supposed to be a lifelike imitation of the English accent, as
spoken by the Lady of the Manor.

"Th-anks; aw-fly tha-anks! How varry kind! I shall be charmed. ...
Too aw-fly sweet of you, don't-cher-know!"

"That's all right!" laughed Guest, happily. "We'll manage to enjoy
ourselves, never fear! There's such a thing as taking _two_ chaperons
and letting them play with each other. ... Here we are at Paddington.
Are y