continued gravely, "since 'tis beyond all doubt you
wanted me and hither came daily to look for me, as methinks you did---?"

Here she paused expectant, whereupon the Major stooped to survey his
neat shoe-buckle.

"Well, sir, did you not come patiently a-seeking me here?"

"Why, mam," he answered, rubbing his chin with his pipe-stem, "'tis
true I came hither--having a fancy for----"

"Then, sir, since being hither come you found me not, why, having legs,
didn't you climb over the wall and seek me where you might have found
me?"

The Major caught his breath and nearly dropped his pipe.

"Indeed it never occurred to me!"

"To be sure the climbing of walls is an infinite trying and arduous
task for--ancient limbs," she sighed, shaking her head, "yet--even you,
might have achieved it--with care."

The Major laughed:

"'Tis possible, mam," said he.

"And it never occurred to you?"

"No indeed, mam, and never would!"

"Then you lack imagination and a man without imagination is akin to the
brutes and--" but here she broke off to utter a small scream and
glancing up in alarm he saw her eyes were closed and that she shuddered
violently.

"Madam!" he cried, "mam! My lady--good heaven are you sick--faint?"

Regardless of the cherry-tree he reached up long arms and swinging
himself up astride the wall, had an arm about her shivering form all in
a moment; thus as she leaned against him he caught the perfume of all
her warm, soft daintiness, then she drew away.

"What was it?" he questioned anxiously as she opened her eyes, "were
you faint, mam? Was it a fit? Good lack, mam, I----"

"Do--not--call me--that!" she cried, eyes flashing and--yes, they were
blue--very darkly blue--"Never dare to call me--so--again!"

"Call you what, mam?"

"Mam!" she cried, gnashing her white teeth--"'tis a hateful word!"

"Indeed I--I had not thought it so," stammered the Major. "It is, I
believe, a word in common use and----"

"Aye, 'tis common! 'Tis odious! 'Tis vulgar!"

"I crave your ladyship's pardon!" And he bowed as well as his position
would allow, though a little stiffly.

"You are marvellous nimble, sir!"

"Your ladyship is gracious!"

"Considering your age, sir!"

"And you, madam, I lament that at yours you should be subject to fits."

"Fits!" she cried in frowning amaze.

"Seizures, then----"

"'Twas no seizure, sir--'twas yourself!"

"Me?" he exclaimed, staring.

"You--and your abominable tobac