the door, whistled in open admiration
as Robinette came down the steps.

"Well, well! we are got up to kill this afternoon; pity old Mark has
just gone; but cheer up, Cousin Robin, there's always a curate on
hand!"

For once Robinette's ready tongue played her false, and a sense of
loneliness overcame her at the sound of Lavendar's name. She gathered
up her long white skirts and got into the carriage with as much
dignity as she could muster, while Carnaby, his eyes twinkling with
mischief, stood ready to shut the door after Miss Smeardon.

"Hope you'll enjoy your drive," he jeered. "You'll need to hold on
your hats. Bucephalus goes at such fiery speed that they'll be torn
off your heads unless you do."

"Middy dear, you're not the least amusing," said Robinette quite
crossly, and with a lurch the carriage moved off.

Miss Smeardon settled herself for conversation. "I'm afraid you will
find me but a dull companion, Mrs. Loring," she said, glancing
sideways at Robinette from under the brim of her mushroom hat.

"Oh, you will be able to tell me who everyone is," said Robinette as
cheerfully as she could.

"I am no gossip," Miss Smeardon protested.

"It isn't necessary to gossip, is it?--but I've a wholesome interest
in my fellow creatures."

"And it is well to know about people a little; when one comes among
strangers as you do, Mrs. Loring; one can't be too careful--an
American, particularly."

Miss Smeardon's voice trailed off upon a note of insinuation; but
Robinette took no notice of the remark. She did not seem to have
anything to say, so Miss Smeardon took up another subject.

"What a pity that Mr. Lavendar had to leave before this afternoon; he
would have been such an addition to our party!"

"Yes, wouldn't he?" Robinette agreed, though she carefully kept out of
her voice the real passion of assent that was in her heart.

"Mr. Lavendar is so agreeable, I always think," Miss Smeardon went on.
"Everyone likes him; he almost carries his pleasant ways too far. I
suppose that was how--" She paused, and added again, "Oh, but as I
said, I never talk scandal!"

"Do you think it's possible to be too pleasant?" Robinette remarked,
stupidly enough, scarcely caring what she said.

"Well, when it leads a poor girl to imagine that she is loved! I hear
that Dolly Meredith is just heart-broken. The engagement kept on for
quite a year, I believe, and then to break it off so heartlessly!--I
was reminded of it all