t here. I began to
have--quite a stifled feeling. How lovely it is in this pergola, isn't
it? Do you think we might walk for a few minutes--and get cool?"

"_May_ I walk with you?" he asked, in a humble sort of way, that gave
me a funny little pain in my heart.

"Please do," I said quickly, and as cordially as I could--far more
cordially than I would have spoken to any man in Mrs. Ess Kay's set.
"It's nice to see you here to-night."

"You must be very much surprised."

I had said "Yes," before I stopped to think; and then I was sorry,
because it showed that I was thinking he did not belong in such a scene
as this. But it was too late to go back, so I went on, instead. "It's a
good surprise."

"It's more than kind of you not quite to have forgotten a waif like
me," he said.

"I shall never forget you," said I. "Why, of course, I couldn't." And I
noticed that my voice sounded quite earnest, just as I felt; but I
wasn't sure that I ought to let him know--even if he was poor and
unlucky--that I did feel so sincerely about it. "There's Vivace, you
know, for one reason."

"What about Vivace?"

"Oh, you needn't pretend; because I was sure you gave him to me, and I
wanted so much to write to that Club and thank you, only I thought as
you had put no name, perhaps I'd better not. I must tell you now,
though; I can't think how you came to be so kind."

"It was one of the greatest pleasures I have ever had. _You_ were kind
not to be offended with me. I didn't mean to take a liberty. I thought
you would like the little chap."

"I love him dearly. Often I should have been dreadfully homesick if it
hadn't been for him. He always seems to understand if I feel gloomy,
and he does his dear little brindled best to cheer me up."

"Vivace is a lucky and happy dog."

"But don't you miss him?"

"No. For I like to think that you have him. You see, you were very kind
to me, when I was in a hard position, and a good deal down on my luck.
There was nothing I could do to show how I appreciated it--until I
thought of Vivace. It was our little talk on the dock, about 'finding a
lost dog,' that put the idea into my head."

"I guessed as much," said I, laughing. "It was that made me sure at
once who it was I had to thank for Vivace. And--I was glad he had been
yours. After what I'd seen you do on board ship, you know, I--I
honoured you. And I feel proud to think that--we are friends."

"You think of me as your friend?" he asked, in