"I don't blame Sir
Mark for going off and getting killed. After all, it ent as though she
were left chargeable to the parish, as you may say."

"She is quite well to do, I suppose?"

"Plenty of money about, as me and you would rackon it. I understand
she complains of not having enough--but there, some people are never
satisfied. Going to give a party next week," he added confidentially.
"Not a great turn-out, because they're all in black, so to speak. So
fur as I can gain from the local newspaper--"

"You say it's half a mile up to the house?"

"You can't very well miss it if you foller your nose," said the old
man, hurt by the interruption.

Through the iron gates Gertie saw two figures coming around the curve
of the gravelled carriage-way; she took ambush hurriedly near to an oak
tree. Henry's voice could be heard, with an occasional remark from
Miss Loriner. "And if I promise to worship you all my life," Henry was
saying, "will you then give me my heart's desire?" His companion did
not reply; he repeated the last words. "You must first," she said,
"make a name in the world, and show yourself worthy of a woman's love."
They turned as they reached the gates, and when Henry next spoke his
remarks did not reach the girl near the oak tree.

"And haven't you been a time!" complained Miss Radford. "Over a hower
altogether, according to my watch. And I'm simply dying for a cup of
tea. There's only been one young gentleman who waved his hand to me; I
was so cross that I didn't wave back. Whatever are you dodging up to
now?"

"I'm going to hire a boat," said Gertie, "and take you out on the
river."

"You can't row."

"Some one learnt me--taught me on the lake in Regent's Park."

Miss Radford declared, on the journey home, that she envied her
friend's good spirits; in her own case, she always found that if she
became more than ordinarily cheerful she inevitably paid for it by
subsequent depression. Gertie recommended her to adopt the method of
not magnifying grievances; if you wanted to view trouble, you could
take opera-glasses, but you should be careful to hold them the wrong
way round. The studious youths entered the compartment at Goring,
their books now put away in pockets, and similarly cheered by exercise;
one, seated opposite Gertie, touched her foot with his shoe at
Pangbourne, and she took no notice. When he did this again at
Tilehurst, she came down heavily upon his toes, and gave, for her