do, but you would not tell me
where you were bound. I am walking in that direction myself, and if you
will allow me I will show you the shortest cut. I know the park so well
that I can dodge about from one path to another, and cut off some of the
corners. It is cold just here, but the cross-roads are sheltered even
now."

The stranger shrugged his shoulders, and said "Humph" in an incredulous
manner, and that was his sole reply in words. He turned, however, and
walked by Mollie's side, leaning heavily on his stick, and taking such
short, laboured steps, that it was evident that the exercise was almost
too much for his strength. Mollie longed to offer him the support of
her strong arm, but even her audacity failed at the sight of the grim
face. She looked inquiringly at his feet, for the symptoms of temper
all hinted to the explanation of gout. But no! there were no cloth
shoes to be seen, only the trimmest of well-polished boots.

"Perhaps he is just recovering from an attack, or sickening for
another," said Mollie to herself. "Anyway, he is ill, poor old fellow,
for his face looks quite grey, just like that poor Mr Burgess before he
died. I expect he can't help being cross. I should be horrid myself if
I were always in pain. I remember that day I had on those new boots
that hurt my feet, I quarrelled with Ruth all the way home... The
question is, shall I talk, or let him alone? If it were me, I'd like to
be amused, to make the time pass. I'll try anyway, and see how he
responds."

They had entered one of the smaller paths by this time, and to the right
lay the wide, grey surface of a lake dotted over by little islands, the
largest of which was connected with the shore by an ornamental bridge.
Mollie felt a kind of possessive pride in the scene, and pointed out the
beauties thereof as eagerly as though she were the owner of all she
surveyed.

"It's the largest lake in any of the parks in the north; some people say
it is nearly as big as the Serpentine. I don't know, for I have never
been in London. In summer-time hundreds of men come and sail boats--
quite great big boats--from side to side. It looks so pretty to see all
the white sails floating about in the sunshine."

"Indeed!"

("Doesn't care for boats. I'll try something else.") "Do you see that
big island, the biggest of all?" pursued the indefatigable Mollie aloud.
"It is full of peacocks. There are dozens and dozens of peacocks! You
ca