t two or three weak
points in my scheme. She said she could judge better if I would let
her see my manuscript. She asked me to come and lunch with her next
Friday--"just our two selves"--at Rodfitten House, and to bring my
manuscript with me. Need I say that I walked on air?

'"And now," she said strenuously, "let us take a turn on our bicycles."
By this time there were a dozen riders on the terrace, all of them
smiling with pride and rapture. We mounted and rode along together. The
terrace ran round two sides of the house, and before we came to the end
of it these words had provisionally marshalled themselves in my mind:

TO
ELEANOR
COUNTESS OF RODFITTEN
THIS BOOK WHICH OWES ALL
TO HER WISE COUNSEL
AND UNWEARYING SUPERVISION
IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED
BY HER FRIEND
THE AUTHOR

'Smiled to masonically by the passing bicyclists, and smiling
masonically to them in return, I began to feel that the rest of my visit
would run smooth, if only--

'"Let's go a little faster. Let's race!" said Lady Rodfitten; and we did
so--"just our two selves." I was on the side nearer to the balustrade,
and it was on that side that Braxton suddenly appeared from nowhere,
solid-looking as a rock, his arms akimbo, less than three yards ahead
of me, so that I swerved involuntarily, sharply, striking broadside the
front wheel of Lady Rodfitten and collapsing with her, and with a crash
of machinery, to the ground.

'I wasn't hurt. She had broken my fall. I wished I was dead. She
was furious. She sat speechless with fury. A crowd had quickly
collected--just as in the case of a street accident. She accused me now
to the crowd. She said I had done it on purpose. She said such terrible
things of me that I think the crowd's sympathy must have veered towards
me. She was assisted to her feet. I tried to be one of the assistants.
"Don't let him come near me!" she thundered. I caught sight of Braxton
on the fringe of the crowd, grinning at me. "It was all HIS fault,"
I madly cried, pointing at him. Everybody looked at Mr. Balfour,
just behind whom Braxton was standing. There was a general murmur
of surprise, in which I have no doubt Mr. Balfour joined. He gave a
charming, blank, deprecating smile. "I mean--I can't explain what I
mean," I groaned. Lady Rodfitten moved away, refusing support, limping
terribly, towar