ng on us, just when we'd forgotten to expect it. I
feel as if I'd wasted a lot of precious time one way or another, but it
isn't too late yet, Lady Di, if you----"

I stopped up my ears again so effectively that I heard no more, and a
few minutes later was flabbergasted when Diana and he suddenly broke
upon me from behind the screen of plants.

My first thought was that Di had suspected my presence there, and had
wanted to pounce; but she gave a jump and a cry of surprise as she saw
me sitting bolt upright on the bench, with my fingers stuffed into my
ears.

"Good _gracious_, Peg!" she gasped. "How long have you been here?"

"Ever since before _you_ came," I answered. I might have put it
differently by telling tales, and so serving Eagle March's cause,
perhaps; but no matter how thoroughly I disapproved of her, I couldn't
give my own sister away. "I didn't like to come out, you see, for fear
you mightn't like it; but I haven't heard anything you've said, if
_that_ interests you to know."

"I don't care whether you've heard or not," said Di, trying to speak
playfully, but unable to keep sharpness out of her tone. "Major Vandyke
thought this was a nicer seat than the hammock to rest in, so he brought
me to it. Of course, we'd no idea any one was--was _hiding_ here!"

"Well, there won't be any one, now I'm free to move," I snapped. "I'm
only too thankful to have a chance to get back to the ballroom. You've
made me miss a dance."

"_We've_ made you? I like that!" gurgled Di. But I waited for no more. I
skipped away toward the nearest long window without looking round, and
was just in time to meet my partner in search of me, the partner after
Eagle March, and a brother officer of his. "Our dance," said he, "and
here's something March asked me to hand you. He's been called away."

The "something" was a leaf torn out of a notebook and neatly folded into
a cocked hat. It was rather appropriate that Eagle's good-bye to me
should come in this form, because I had given him the notebook for a
birthday present only the week before. I'd saved up my pennies to get a
good one, and have his initials in silver fastened on to the
khaki-coloured morocco cover. The paper of the book itself and the
refills were also khaki coloured to match the cover, with lines in very
faint blue. I had wanted my little gift to be as distinctive as
possible, and had taken a great deal of pains to choose a notebook
different from all others, little d