a doorway, and to
attach him to herself.

In high good humour now that her aim was accomplished, she set about
the real business of the morning--that of promenading up and down. She
had no longer even a feigned interest left for Laura, and the latter
walked beside the couple a lame and unnecessary third. Though she kept
a keen watch for Bob, she could not discover him, and her time was
spent for the most part in dodging people, and in catching up with her
companions for it was difficult to walk three abreast in the crowd.

Then she saw him--and with what an unpleasant shock. If only Tilly did
not see him, too!

But no such luck was hers. "Look out, there's Bob," nudged Tilly almost
at once.

Alas! there was no question of his waiting longingly for her to appear.
He was walking with two ladies, and laughing and talking. He raised his
hat to his cousin and her friend, but did not disengage himself, and
passing them by disappeared in the throng.

Behind her hand Tilly buzzed: "One of those Woodwards is awfully sweet
on him. I bet he can't get loose."

This was a drop of comfort. But as, at the next encounter, he still did
not offer to join them--could it, indeed, be expected that he would
prefer her company to that of the pretty, grown-up girls he was
with?--as he again sidled past, Tilly, who had given him one of her
most vivacious sparkles, turned and shot a glance at Laura's face.

"For pity's sake, look a little more amiable, or he won't come at all."

Laura felt more like crying; her sunshine was intercepted, her good
spirits were quenched; had she had her will, she would have turned tail
and gone straight back to school. She had not wanted Bob, had never
asked him to be 'gone' on her, and if she had now to fish for him, into
the bargain...However there was no help for it; the thing had to be
gone through with; and, since Tilly seemed disposed to lay the blame of
his lukewarmness at her door, Laura glued her mouth, the next time Bob
hove in sight, into a feeble smile.

Soon afterwards he came up to them. His cousin had an arch greeting in
readiness.

"Well, you've been doing a pretty mash, you have!" she cried, and
jogged him with her elbow. "No wonder you'd no eyes for poor us. What
price Miss Woodward's gloves this morning!"--at which Bob laughed,
looked sly, and tapped his breast pocket.

It was time to be moving homewards. Tilly and her beau led the way.
"For we know you two would rather be alone. No