up this afternoon. I'm so anxious for you to find
something to interest and _occupy_ you--" His glance dropped an instant
to the papers and law books as though wishing he had something better
with which to occupy himself. "Besides," he added carelessly, "Francis
won't be here to see what you do--gone off with Scoggins up somewhere in
the hills--big dog-fight up there and Francis took four curs, Scoggins
two--they won't be back till night--so go ahead!"

But I had caught the back of a chair.

"Dog-fight?" I said faintly. "Frances up in the hills--and--and with
Scoggins?" And she had only left me a half-hour ago!

"Why, _certainly_!" he said wearily, almost testily. "What of it? I tell
you you've got to get your ideas all readjusted about Francis. What's
the matter with the dog-fight?"

"So--so surprised," I faltered; "so unexpected, you know!"

"Poof!"--and he pushed me out through the doorway--"I never face
anything unexpected in that quarter!"

But I think he would have, if he had followed me across into the
dining-room and had faced, as I did--

Frances!

"_So_ glad you didn't go to the dog-fight!" I said presently, beaming
across at her delightedly.

Her sweet lips glowed at me as her dainty fingers poised the tiny
trident before her lips. Jove, how I envied that jolly oyster! Then she
smiled witchingly, teasingly.

"It wasn't because I didn't have an invitation," she responded archly.
_I_ knew! That beast, Scoggins!

"Umph;" grunted the frump, seated on the curve between us. "I verily
believe Francis would go to anything!"

I scowled--couldn't help it, dash it! And Frances saw, and ducked her
head, biting her lip and blushing. I could have choked the frump for so
embarrassing her!

Yet the woman _did_ try to be pleasant to me.

"Did you ever find a pearl in an oyster, Mr. Lightnut?" she asked.

"By Jove, no!" I said, staring at her for the fool question. For _who_
could ever lose a pearl in a jolly oyster, don't you know? And yet, the
next instant:

"_I_ have!" said my darling, glancing up at me the oddest way.

"Have you, Frances?"--the frump faced her interestedly. "You should
examine with a microscope the interstratifications of calcareous matter
and animal membrane."

My beauty looked down at her plate.

"I _am_ examining it," she said gravely, "and microscopically. Probably
shall this afternoon."

But she _didn't_! No, by Jove, we were together almost all
the afternoon, though we neve