t occur to you that on evidence which
would not suffice to convict a bicyclist of riding on a footpath, you
are circulating a scandal of which the issue might be very grave to both
the parties concerned?"

"I am not circulating anything. I was telling you privately;" replied
Eliza, still trying to be bold.

"I am glad to hear it. I understand that neither you nor your brother
have spoken of this extraordinary tale, and I am quite certain that you
will not speak of it in the future."

"I cannot answer for my brother," she said sulkily.

"No, but in his own interest and in yours I trust that you will make him
understand that if I hear a word of this I shall hold him to account.
Also, that his propagation of such a slander will react upon you, who
were with him."

"How?" asked Eliza, now thoroughly frightened, for when he chose the
Colonel could be very crushing.

"Thus: Your brother's evidence is that of an interested person which no
one will accept; and of yours, Miss Layard, it might be inferred that
it was actuated by jealousy of a charming and quite innocent girl; or,
perhaps, by other motives even worse, which I would rather you did not
ask me to suggest."

Eliza did not ask him. She was too wise. As she knew well, when roused
the Colonel was a man with a bitter tongue and a good memory.

"I am sure I am the last person who would wish to do mischief," she said
in a humble voice.

"Of course, I know that, I know that. Well, now we understand each
other, so I must be turning home. Thank you so much for having been
quite candid with me. Good morning, Miss Layard; remember me to
Stephen."

"Phew!" reflected the Colonel to himself, "that battle is won--after a
fashion--but just about forty-eight hours too late. By this time that
vixen of a woman has put the story all over the place. Oh, Morris, you
egregious ass, if you wanted to take to kissing like a schoolboy, why
the deuce did you select the high road for the purpose? This must be put
a stop to. I must take steps, and at once. They mustn't be seen together
again, or there will be trouble with Mary. But how to do it? how to do
it? That is the question, and one to which I must find an answer within
the next two hours. What a kettle of fish! What a pretty kettle of
fish!"

In due course, and after diligent search, he found the answer to this
question.

At lunch time the Colonel remarked casually that he had walked a little
way with Miss Layard, who m