tween us we can think of a road out of the difficulty with
Lady Tressidy. But the first thing to do is to get you safely away from
this."

"I'm afraid I can't walk!" she warned me, laughing nervously.

"Of course not. A cab's the thing, with the invalided bike on top. But
may I be with you? I don't see how it is possible to let you go by
yourself."

"It will be very--unconventional, won't it?" she smiled. "But there are
times when conventionalities must be thrown aside, and I shall be
grateful if you'll take care of me, and do all the planning, please."
Then, womanlike, contradicting her own last sentence, she went on, "But
I don't see how we can manage about a cab. Of course there won't be any
here, and--I don't _very_ much want to be left sitting here all
alone."

"And you shall not be, for a moment," I said, joyful even at this small
sign that my presence was not actually disagreeable to her. "There are
plenty of people who will call a cab for us."

And I proceeded to put my statement to the proof.

Within five minutes an unusually presentable four-wheeler had appeared
upon the scene, the unfortunate bicycle had been handed up on top, and
the young lady had been tenderly helped inside.

"Tell him just to go on slowly for a few minutes while we talk things
over," she commanded, more cheerfully. "Do you know, Mr. Stanton, after
all I begin to hope my ankle is not so badly hurt; and though, as I told
you, I shall be in a sad scrape when I get home, and have to confess,
still--there's a spice of adventure in all this that appeals to me,
rather. It's a very long time since I have had an adventure of any
kind."

Poor child, she little guessed how many awaited her behind the lowered
curtain of the future!

"Never have _I_ had one which would be so wholly delightful," I
boldly said, "if I had not to think that you were in pain."

"Oh, it is really not so dreadful." She blushed brightly, but when the
lovely rose tint faded it left her pale even to the lips. "Suppose we
talk," she went on more sedately, "about the way in which you are to get
me out of my difficulty--for I think you've promised to do that."

I adopted her tone at once. "Let us begin with judicial questioning
then. Was Lady Tressidy at home when you came out?"

"No"--laughing--"or I couldn't have come--on my bicycle. She'd gone to
an anti-something meeting (Lady Tressidy is very fond of anti-something
meetings, as you'll discover for yourself when