bear it."

Michael was beginning really to enjoy himself. She was something so
fresh, so entirely different to anything he had ever seen in his life
before. There was nothing of shyness or awkwardness in her manner, as
any English girl would have shown. She was absolutely at ease, with a
childish, confiding innocence which he saw plainly was real, and not put
on for his benefit. It was almost incredible in these up-to-date days. A
most engaging morsel of seventeen summers, he decided, as he answered
with over-grave concern:

"What a hard fate!--but you have not told me yet why you ran away!"

The girl had finished her toilet by now, and reseated herself with a
grown-up air in the big armchair.

"Oh! well, he was just--horrid--that was all," and then abruptly turning
the conversation, "It is a nice place you have here, and it does feel
lovely doing something wrong like this--having tea with you, I mean. You
know, I have never spoken to a young man before. The Nuns always told us
they were dreadful creatures--but you don't look so bad--" and she
examined her host critically.

Michael accepted the implied appreciation.

"What is Mr. Greenbank, then?"

The silver laugh rang out again, while she jumped up and peeped from
the window into the courtyard.

"Samuel--he's only a thing! Oh! Uncle and Aunt would be so angry if they
could see me here! And I expect they are all in a fine fuss now to know
what has happened to me! They never saw me go through the door, and I
hope they think that I've committed suicide out of one of the windows.
Look!" and she danced excitedly, "there is Uncle talking to the
commissionaire. Oh, what fun!"

Mr. Arranstoun peeped, too--and saw a spare, elderly American of grim
appearance in anxious confab with Alexander Armstrong.

The whole situation struck him as delightful, and he laughed gaily,
while he suggested: "You are perhaps rather a difficult charge?"

Miss Delburg resented this at once.

"What an idea! How would you like to marry Mr. Greenbank, or stay with
Aunt Jemima for four years!"

"Well, you see, I can't contemplate it, as I am not a girl!"

Again those white teeth showed, and the violet eyes were suffused with
laughter.

"No! Of course not. How silly I am--but I mean, how would you care to be
forced to do something you did not like?"

Michael thought of his own fate.

"By Jove! I should hate it!"

"Well--you can understand me!"

Then the door opened, and the but