r if a high wind were blowing. It was different to-day.

I noted that the breeze was just strong enough to ruffle the lace at her
throat, and that the blue of her gown matched perfectly with cloud, sky,
and the dominating tones of the undulating carpet on which she tread.

I might play with Marshall or Chilvers a thousand times and not know or
care if the links were garbed in green or yellow, or if the clouds were
pink or Van Dyke brown, but as I said before, the only sentiment aroused
by association with these vindictive golf fiends is a wild and
unreasoning desire to beat the life out of them at their own game. I
dislike to say it, but they have never inspired in me one sentiment of
which I am proud.

At my suggestion we decided to start at the third tee. The first one
requires a long drive to carry the lane, and on the second it is
necessary to negotiate the old graveyard, and I disliked to put Miss
Harding to so severe a test on the start.

As I made a tee for her and carefully placed a new white ball on it, I
could not help think of the many times I have sneered and laughed at
Thomas, who is the only good player in the club who has really seemed to
enjoy a game of golf with one of the opposite sex.

I can see now that I have been very unfair to Thomas.

The man who refuses to play golf with a woman, or who even hesitates,
and who justifies such conduct on the plea that she cannot play well
enough to make the contest an equal one--well, he has none of the finer
instincts of a gentleman.

I told Marshall and Chilvers so this evening, and they laughed at me.

Both of these men are married, and both used to play golf with their
sweethearts when they were engaged. Once in a great while they now play
a round with the alleged partners of their joys and sorrows, but they do
it as if it were a penance, and seem immensely relieved when the ordeal
is over. It is pitiful to watch these two ladies forced to play
together, while their lords and masters indulge in fierce foursomes,
waged for the brute love of victory--and incidentally, perhaps for a
ball a hole.

If I ever marry I shall play with the habitual golfer only when Mrs.
Smith is disinclined to favour me with her society on the links.
Chilvers and Marshall say that they made the same resolution--and kept
it nearly six months. Let them watch me.

Miss Harding missed the ball entirely the first time she swung at it,
and both of us laughed heartily.

Now that