Lovely was piqued by her obvious weakness for a less
fashionable, less conspicuous gentleman."

" Oh, I will never forgive him. He has ruined me."

" Nay, come, come, 'tis not so bad as that. Amor will
never desert his Phyllida."

" I'm ruined, I'm ruined," she sobbed, " I shall
never dare go to visit my cousin Barbara, who is as

prim and proper as " Nothing was prim enough for

the comparison. " And she has the most delicious hot
buns you ever tasted, and the dearest spaniel and the
most beautiful pug-dog. Oh dear! oh dear! Oh dear!
how all the neighbours will laugh, and old Rumble
the carrier will be telling tales about me in every
kitchen in the county, and 'tis all your fault."

" My fault? "

" Yes, yours, for asking me to come and meet you and
making love, while all the while there was somebody
peeping over the hedges, I'll never forgive you, never,
never ! — "

" Dearest life, we can put a stop to scandal by being
wed immediately. Listen! I'll have a post-chaise ready



cimTAiif POLLS mu

at dawn, and post-boys in scarlet, and lodgings with a
balcony and a goldfinch singing in a cage. My Phyllida,
will you come? "

" Oh ! I dare not, I dare not — not yet, oh lud, oh
lud ! how shall I look the world in the face? "

Vernon thought for a moment.
" Where are your pearls kept? "

" In my mamma's trunkmail, but Betty could give
me the key — and sometimes in her jewel case."

" On the thirtieth," said Vernon, " there will be a ball
at Daish's Rooms, next to the Blue Boar where I lodge.
