ny reasonable manner get rid of me.

"Did you enjoy the ride?" asked the Honorable Betty, as her Highness
came in to breakfast. There were no formalities in the princess'
apartments.

"Beautifully!" Her Highness guiltily wondered if there was any logical
way to keep Betty in the house for the next few mornings. She sat down
and sipped her tea. "The duke talked to me last night. Steinbock
played double."

"What!"

"Yes. He sold us to the duke, who patiently waited for me to speak.
Betty, I am a fool. But I shall never marry Doppelkinn. That is
settled."

"I suppose he will be inviting me to return to England," said Betty
shrewdly.

"Not for the present."

"And I have just grown to love the place,"--pathetically. "Mr.
Warrington has asked me to ride with him afternoons. His ankle
prevents him from taking the long morning jaunts. If it will not
interfere with your plans, dear--"

"Accept, by all means," interrupted her Highness. "He is a capital
horseman." She smiled mysteriously. Happily her companion was
absorbed in thought and did not see this smile.

Max came in at quarter of ten, went to tub, and came down in time for
the eggs.

"Have a good ride?" I asked.

"Bully! Beautiful country!" He was enthusiastic.

"How these healthy animals eat!" I thought as I observed him
occasionally.

"Wish I could go with you," I said, but half-heartedly.

"I'll get the lay of the land quick enough," he replied.

The rascal! Not a word about the girl that morning, or the next, or
until Thursday morning. If only I had known! But Fate knows her
business better than I do, and she was handling the affair. But long
rides of a morning with a pretty girl are not safe for any bachelor.

Thursday morning he came in late. He dropped something on the table.
On inspection I found it to be a woman's handkerchief purse.

"Where the deuce did you get that?" I asked, mighty curious.

"By George! but I've been enjoying the most enchanting adventure; such
as you read out of a book. I'm inclined to believe that I shall enjoy
my studies in old Barscheit."

"But where did you get this?" If there was a girl around, I wanted to
know all about it.

"She dropped it."

"_She_ dropped it!" I repeated. "What she? Why, you old tow-head,
have you been flirting at this hour of the morning?"

"Handsome as a picture!"

"Ha! the ideal at last,"--ironically. "Blonde, of course."

"Dark as a Spaniard, and ri