all that he wanted. Was it not necessary
that there should be some house in which he might meet you? Could
there have been much of a pleasant time for wooing between you in
your aunt's drawing-room in Kingsbury Crescent?"

"Oh, no," said Ayala.

"Could he have taken you out hunting unless you had been here? How
could he and you have known each other at all unless I had been kind
to you? Now you will understand."

"Yes," said Ayala, "I understand now. Did he ask you?"

"Well,--he consulted me. We talked you all over, and made up our
minds, between us, that if we petted you down here that would be the
best way to win you. Were we not right?"

"It was a very nice way. I do so like to be petted."

"Sir Harry was in the secret, and he did his petting by buying the
frock. That was a success too, I think."

"Did he care about that, Lady Albury?"

"What he?"

"Jonathan," said Ayala, almost stumbling over the word, as she
pronounced it aloud for the first time.

"I think he liked it. But whether he would have persevered without it
you must ask yourself. If he tells you that he would never have said
another word to you only for this frock, then I think you ought to
thank Sir Harry, and give him a kiss."

"I am sure he will not tell me that," said Ayala, with mock
indignation.

"And now, my dear, as I have told you all my secret, and have
explained to you how we laid our heads together, and plotted against
you, I think you ought to tell me your secret. Why was it that you
refused him so pertinaciously on that Sunday when you were out
walking, and yet you knew your mind about it so clearly as soon as he
arrived to-day?"

"I can't explain it," said Ayala.

"You must know that you liked him."

"I always liked him."

"You must have more than liked on that Sunday."

"I adored him."

"Then I don't understand you."

"Lady Albury, I think I fell in love with him the first moment I saw
him. The Marchesa took me to a party in London, and there he was."

"Did he say anything to you then?"

"No. He was very funny,--as he often is. Don't you know his way?
I remember every word he said to me. He came up without any
introduction and ordered me to dance with him."

"And you did?"

"Oh yes. Whatever he told me I should have done. Then he scolded me
because I did not stand up quick enough. And he invented some story
about a woman who was engaged to him and would not marry him because
he had red hair and his name was