said mamma, lifting her head from the arm of the sofa, and
casting upon him the look of _ingenue_ archness which was almost her
sole fortune on the boards, 'Miss Hampton's horse has cast a shoe, and
the shoeing-smith is miles away. Did you ride or drive, Mr. Armstrong?
I'm sure you couldn't have ridden with all those nice things you've
been so kind to bring me. You must have driven, and you must drive Miss
Hampton home again. Isn't it kind of her to have come over to see me
from such a distance 'Just look and see: I'm actually smothered in wine
and grapes and jelly and flowers. And wasn't it kind of you, too, Mr.
Armstrong, to think of me just at the same moment! And wasn't it kind of
Miss Hampton's horse to cast a shoe so that you would be obliged to go
back together, whether you meant it or no?'

Miss Hampton was bending over the boy, and her face was hidden; but one
blushing cheek gave warranty for the rest, and it was evident to Paul
that she was as embarrassed as himself. She spoke icily: 'Mr. Armstrong
was not aware that I was coming here. I must go at once. I have no doubt
the landlord will be able to find me another driver.'

'Now, why on earth,'asked the little actress from her sofa, 'should two
people who know each other as well as you do take two carriages to drive
along the self-same road? Now, when you come to think of it, isn't that
absurd! And such a chance for a spoon, too, all along that quiet road!'

'Good-afternoon, dear,' said Miss Hampton, setting down the child, and
offering an Arctic kiss to the reclining lady; 'I must go.'

With that she swept from the room with an air of dignity and confusion,
and Paul shook hands with the invalid and followed her.

CHAPTER XXVI

There are just as many different ways of falling in love as there are
characters and temperaments, and even the same man--unless he be a
fellow of no originality--will not fall in love twice in the same
fashion. As to the wisdom or righteousness or the mere everyday question
of plain honour involved in the permission which Paul Armstrong gave
himself to fall in love at all, under the conditions in which he stood,
there seemed room for no illusion. He should by this time have been
something of a man of the world, and might reasonably be supposed to be
acting with his eyes open to consequences. He had his compunctions by
the hundred, his hoverings by the way, and turnings back from it. But
many delicate signs which would have b