I wonder _when_
men think they are beginning to grow old! I am sure Sir Guy fancies he
is still in the flower of his youth, and so charming that nobody can
resist him.

What a pleasant day we had! Only we four--Lady Scapegrace, Cousin
John, Captain Lovell, and I. We went down in Lady Scapegrace's
barouche, and walked in Greenwich Park, and adjourned to a nice room
with a bay window, and such a lookout over the river, blushing rose
colour in the evening sun. And the whitebait was so good, and the
champagne-cup so nice; and we were all in such spirits, and Frank was
so kind and attentive and agreeable I couldn't find it in my heart to
be cross to him. So it ended in our making up any little imaginary
differences we may have had and becoming better friends than ever. As
we sat in the balcony over the river--the two gentlemen smoking their
after-dinner cigars, and we ladies sipping our coffee--I thought I had
never enjoyed an evening so much; and even John, who was generally
dreadfully afraid of Lady Scapegrace, became quite lively and gallant
(for him), and they laughed and talked and joked about all sorts of
things; while Frank leant over my shoulder and conversed more gravely
than was his habit; and I listened, and thought him pleasanter even
than usual. By the way, that lilac bonnet never quite lost the odour
of tobacco afterwards.

"How quick the time passes!" said Frank, with almost a sigh. "Can't we
_do_ anything to put off horrid London and home and bed? Let's all go
to Vauxhall."

"What do _you_ say, Mr. Jones?" inquired Lady Scapegrace, who was
always ready for a lark; "you're our _chaperon_, you know. Do you
think you can be responsible?"

"Oh yes, John!" I exclaimed. "You promised to take me once before the
end of the season. We shall never have such another chance."

"This is a capital night to go," remarked Frank, "because there is a
new riding-woman; and you can take a lesson, Miss Coventry, in case
you should wish to perform in public." Cousin John could not possibly
hold out against all three; and although I think in his heart he did
not entirely approve, the carriage was ordered, the bill paid, and we
were rolling along through the cool summer night _en route_ for
Vauxhall.

"My dear," said Lady Scapegrace to me as we sidled through the
entrance of that place of amusement, and the gentlemen remained behind
to pay, "you are doing anything but what I told you; scarcely three
words have you spoken to