spoke with the manner of humouring her about a trifle. "Mitchy,
delightful man, felt on the subject of your eternal exile, I think,
still more strongly."

They quitted their place together and at the end of a few steps became
aware of the approach of one of the others, a figure but a few yards
off, arriving from the quarter from which Nanda had come. "Ah Mr.
Longdon!"--she spoke with eagerness now.

Vanderbank instantly waved his hat. "Dear old boy!"

"Between you all, at any rate," she said more gaily, "you've brought me
down."

Vanderbank made no answer till they met their friend, when, by way of
greeting, he simply echoed her words. "Between us all, you'll be glad to
know, we've brought her down."

Mr. Longdon looked from one of them to the other. "Where have you been
together?"

Nanda was the first to respond. "Only talking--on a bench."

"Well, _I_ want to talk on a bench!" Their friend showed a spirit.

"With me, of course?"--Vanderbank met it with encouragement.

The girl said nothing, but Mr. Longdon sought her eyes. "No--with Nanda.
You must mingle in the crowd."

"Ah," the their companion laughed, "you two are the crowd!"

"Well--have your tea first."

Vanderbank on this, giving it up with the air of amused accommodation
that was never--certainly for these two--at fault in him, offered to
Mr. Longdon before departing the handshake of greeting he had omitted; a
demonstration really the warmer for the tone of the joke that went with
it. "Intrigant!"

II

Nanda praised to the satellite so fantastically described the charming
spot she had quitted, with the effect that they presently took fresh
possession of it, finding the beauty of the view deepened as the
afternoon grew old and the shadows long. They were of a comfortable
agreement on these matters, by which moreover they were but little
delayed, one of the pair at least being too conscious, for the hour, of
still other phenomena than the natural and peaceful process that filled
the air. "Well, you must tell me about these things," Mr. Longdon
sociably said: he had joined his young friend with a budget of
impressions rapidly gathered at the house; as to which his appeal to
her for a light or two may be taken as the measure of the confidence now
ruling their relations. He had come to feel at last, he mentioned, that
he could allow for most differences; yet in such a situation as the
present bewilderment could only come back. There were no d