countered a grub on her way hither or been routed by a
beetle--the which last I do fervently hope."

This hope, however, was doomed to disappointment for very suddenly a
lady appeared, a somewhat faded lady who, with dainty petticoats
uplifted, tripped hastily towards them uttering small, wailing screams
as she came.

"O Betty!" she cried. "Betty! O Elizabeth, child--a rat! O dear
heart o' me, a great rat, child! That sat in the path, Betty, and
looked at me, child--with a huge, great tail! O sweet heaven!"

"Looked at you with his tail, aunt?"

"Nay, child--faith, my poor senses do so twitter I scarce know what I
say--but its wicked wild eyes! And it curled its horrid tail in
monstrous threatening fashion! And O, thank heaven--a man!"

Here the agitated lady tottered towards the Major and, supported by his
arm, sank down upon the bench and closing her eyes, gasped feebly.

"Madam!" he exclaimed, bending over her in great alarm.

"O lud!" she murmured faintly.

"By heaven, she's swooning!" exclaimed the Major.

"Nay, sir," sighed Lady Betty, "'tis no swoon nor even a faint, 'tis
merely a twitter. Dear aunt will be herself again directly--so come
let me sew on that button or I'll prick you, I vow I will!"

At this Lady Belinda, opening her languid eyes, stared and gasped again.

"Mercy of heaven, child!" she exclaimed, "what do you?"

"Sew on this gentleman's buttons, aunt!"

"Buttons, child! Heaven above!"

"Coat-buttons, aunt!"

"Mercy on us! Buttons! In the arbour! With a man----"

"Major d'Arcy, our neighbour, aunt. Major, my aunt, Lady Belinda
Damain."

Hereupon the Major bowed a trifle awkwardly since Lady Betty still had
him in leash, while her aunt, rising, sank into a curtsey that was a
wonder to behold and thereafter sighed and languished like the faded
beauty she was.

"My undutiful niece, sir," said she, "hath no eye to decorum, she is
for ever shocking the proprieties and me--alack, 'tis a naughty
baggage--a romping hoyden, a wicked puss----"

"Aunt Belinda, dare to call me a 'puss' again and I'll scratch!"

"And you are Major d'Arcy--of the Guards?"

"Late of the Third, madam."

"Related to the d'Arcys of Sussex?"

"Very distantly, I believe."

"Charming people! A noble family!"

The Major would have bowed again but for my lady Betty's levelled
needle; thereafter while her aunt alternately prattled of the joys of
Bath and languished over the delights of London,