r chair inquiringly.

"They seem amused," she said.

"It was probably at one of Miss Crestwick's remarks; she's undoubtedly
original," returned Millicent. "Still, I think it was chiefly Mr.
Marple's laugh you heard."

His voice had been most in evidence--it usually carried far--but Lisle
was half amused at the disapproval in the girl's tone.

"I'm afraid I'm now and then a little boisterous, too," he ventured.

"It depends a good deal upon what you laugh at," Millicent informed him.

Mrs. Gladwyne looked up again, as if she had not heard, and the girl
smiled at her.

"What I said isn't worth repeating."

She moved away a pace or two and Lisle watched Bella, who glanced once or
twice in his direction as she crossed the lawn. Somehow he felt that he
was wanted and a little later he strolled after the girl. Millicent
noticed it with a slight frown, though she did not trouble to ask herself
why she was vexed. When Lisle reached Bella, she regarded him with
mischief in her eyes.

"As I once mentioned, you learn rapidly," she laughed. "You'll be
thankful for the instruction some day, and I promise not to teach you
anything very detrimental. But I'm a little surprised that Millicent
Gladwyne allowed you to come."

"I dare say she could spare me; I'm not a very entertaining companion,"
Lisle said humbly.

"It wasn't that," Bella explained. "I don't think she'd like you
spoiled--perhaps I should say contaminated; she has ideas on the subject
of education, too. She always calls me Miss Crestwick, which is
significant; I've no doubt she did so when Marple made himself
conspicuous by his amusement just now."

Lisle had noticed the correctness of her assumptions on other occasions,
but he said nothing, for he had noticed some bitterness in her voice. He
walked on with her and she led him into a path through a shrubbery
bordering the lawn, where she sat down on a wooden seat.

"Now," she said teasingly, "we have given the others something to think
about; but I've really no designs on you. It wouldn't be much use,
anyway. You're safe."

She looked up at him with elfish mischief in her aggressively pretty
face. Dressed in some clinging fabric of pale watery green that matched
the greenish light in her eyes and the reddish gleam in her hair, she was
very alluring; but it was borne in upon Lisle that to take up her
challenge too boldly would lower him in the girl's regard.

"I'm human," he laughed. "Perhaps I'd better