with starting eyes at a handsome-looking youth in a loose, baggy
knickerbocker suit, mounted upon a bicycle, which he cleverly
manipulated with one hand as he thrust open the swing gate, rode
through, and escaped the rebound by pushing onward, riding right up to
the window, leaping down with agility, leaning the bicycle against the
wall, and, as if in imitation of Syd, vaulting lightly into the room to
fling arms round the lad's neck.

"Oh, Syd darling!" came from a pair of rosy lips, in company with a sob.

"Oh, Molly!" cried the boy, excitedly, beginning to repel his visitor,
but ending by hugging her tightly in his arms.

"Got you again at last, dear," cried the very boyishly-costumed young
lady.

"Yes, but--oh, here's a jolly shine!"

"Yes, dear, awful. But now I am come, don't send me away from you. I
feel as if we must part no more."

"What are you talking about, pet?" cried the boy. "You must be off at
once."

"Oh, no, I shan't. I've come, never to leave you any more."

"You're mad, Molly. A March hare isn't in it with you. Auntie'll be
here directly."

"Gammon! I met her ever so long ago, in the carriage and pair. She
looked at me, and turned up her nose and sniffed."

"Did she know you?"

"Not she. I should have been here before, only Lady Tilborough galloped
by me on her pony, and I followed and saw her come in, and I've been
hiding in the copse till she came away, for I knew she wouldn't stop, as
your aunt was out. As soon as she galloped off I came on. If it hadn't
been for that I should have been here before. So no fudge; everybody's
out, and we can talk. Oh, ain't you jolly ready to get shut of me?"

"But everybody isn't out, pussy. Uncle's at home."

"Is he? Come out, then. Let's get into the woods."

"But I can't, dear."

"Oh, why don't you tell them? You must now."

"I can't, dear. It's impossible yet. Oh, why did you come?"

"Because I wanted to see you pertickler."

"But I was coming over to the races, and you'd have seen me then."

"You got my telegram, then?"

"Telegram? No. What telegram?"

"The one I sent, saying I must see you. Yesterday."

"No telegram came."

"Then it's got stuck, because there's so many racing messages going. I
sent one."

"Then you must have been a little fool."

"That I ain't," said the girl, petulantly.

"I told you not to write or send."

"But I was obliged to, I tell you; and as you didn't come to me in my
trouble