nstance eyed him with a degree of mystification on her side.

'I am acquainted with a number of families that I have never told you
about,' she observed.

'_Scusi_, signorina,' he stammered; and immediately, 'Tony, zat
donk'-man, what you do wif him?'

'Oh, he and my father are climbing Monte Brione to-day.'

'What time zay come home?'

'About seven o'clock, I fancy.

'Ze signora and ze signorina--zay come two days before zay are expect.'
And he was clearly aggrieved by the fact.

Constance's mystification increased; she saw not the slightest connexion.

'I suppose, Gustavo, you can find them something to eat even if they did
come two days before they were expected?'

The two turned toward the arbour, but Constance paused for a moment and
glanced back with a shade of mischief in her eye.

'By the way, Gustavo, that young man who taught the parrot English has
gone?'

Gustavo rolled his eyes to the sky and back to her face. She understood
nothing; was there ever a muddle like this?

'_Si_, signorina,' he murmured confusedly, 'ze yong man is gone.'

Nannie caught sight of the visitors first, and with a start which nearly
upset the tea table, came running forward to meet them; while her aunt,
Mrs. Eustace, followed more placidly. Nannie was a big wholesome outdoor
girl of a purely American type. She waited for no greetings; she had news
to impart.

'Constance, Miss Hazel! I'm so glad to see you--what do you think? I'm
engaged!'

Miss Hazel murmured incoherent congratulations, and tried not to look as
shocked as she felt. In her day, no lady would have made so delicate an
announcement in any such off-hand manner as this. Constance received it
in the spirit in which it was given.

'Who's the man?' she inquired, as she shook hands with Mrs. Eustace.

'You don't know him--Harry Eastman, a friend of Jerry's. Jerry doesn't
know it yet, and I had to confide in some one. Oh, it's no secret; Harry
cabled home--he wanted to get it announced so I couldn't change my mind.
You see he only had a three weeks' vacation; he took a fast boat, landed
at Cherbourg, followed us the whole length of France, and caught us in
Lucerne just after Jerry had gone. I couldn't refuse him after he'd taken
such a lot of trouble. That's what detained us: we had expected to come a
week ago. And now----' by a rapid change of expression she became
tragic.--'We've lost Jerry Junior!'

'Lost Jerry Junior!' Constance's tone was interested. '