however, was only after long
begging on my part, and a full explanation of the difficulties of my
position. So she consented, and finally mentioned a certain day on
which she would leave; and that was about a fortnight ago.

"Now, you know, all the time, I felt awfully about her having to come
on alone, until at length, as ill-luck would have it, it so happened
that I was able to steal a few days from my business. So I
determined, after all, to go on for her. Fool that I was, I didn't
telegraph! There was no time to write, of course. You see, I was such
an idiot that I only thought of giving her a pleasant surprise. This
filled my mind and occupied all my thoughts, and all the way on I was
chuckling to myself over my scheme; and I kept fancying how delighted
she would be at finding that, after all, she would not have to make
the journey alone. I was so full of this that I couldn't think of
anything else. And now I should like to ask you calmly, Miss
Westlotorn, one simple question: Did you ever hear in all your life
of such a perfect and unmitigated chuckle-head?"

"Never!" said Katie, in a demure tone.

"Well," continued Harry, ruefully, "luck was against me. I met with
several delays of a tedious kind, and lost in all about two days. At
last I got to my destination, and then--then--in one word, there came
a thunder-clap. What do you think?"

"What?"

"She was gone!"

"Gone?"

"Yes. She had gone the day before my arrival. She had written again,
and had telegraphed. She had then set out, expecting me to receive
her with all a lover's eagerness at Barcelona, at the hotel which I
had mentioned to her in my last letter, and hoping also that I might
possibly turn up at any station after passing the Pyrenees. What do
you think of that? Wasn't that a blow? And was it my fault?"

"Certainly not," said Katie, in a soothing voice. "Not your fault,
only your misfortune. But what did her friends say?"

"Her friends? Oh, they were awfully indignant, of course, but I
couldn't wait to explain it all to them. The moment I found out how
it was, I turned on my heel and hurried back to Barcelona. I
travelled night and day. I got there without any interruption, and
rushed to the hotel where, according to my direction, she was to have
gone."

"Well," asked Katie, as Harry paused, "was she there?"

"No," said Harry; "but, worst of all, she had been there! Yes, she
had been there. She had made the journey; she had reached Bar