inding Bess Fraser at his elbow, he asked her to play "fives" with
him.

Bess had become non-interesting since Lady Harden's revelation. Poor
old Bess--he wondered whether she really---- And to think of
Cornwall's wanting to marry her! She really was a splendid creature.
Much better looking than Lady Harden. Lady Harden was too pale by
daylight.

"I say, Bess, what is Lady Harden's first name?"

"Dagny. Her mother's mother was a Norwegian, you know."

"Dagny," repeated Cleeve, slowly. "I never heard the name before. I
like it; it suits her, somehow."

Alas for poor Mrs. Fraser, she was not clever.

Pausing in the game, she looked up.

"Mind you don't fall in love with her, Teddy," she said, sharply.

"What rot!" he answered, smashing the ball into a pocket. "Why should
I fall in love with her?"

"Well, a good many men do. And she's frightfully attractive, and
you're so--young."

He frowned. "I'm twenty-five, and--a fellow sees a lot by that
time--if he's ever going to see anything. Play."

When Lady Harden came in from her ride, she found Teddy waiting for
her.

"I've been warned against you," he said, abruptly, his blue eyes
dancing.

"Against me?"

"Yes. Against falling in love with you."

The personal note was strong now. Lady Harden sank into a chair with a
laugh.

"How perfect! Who warned you? _Dear_ old Lady Carey? Did you tell her
a man may not fall in love with his great-aunt?"

"I'm even not sure that yesterday I was not in love with some one who
is five years older than you."

Her charming face, flushed with exercise, grew suddenly serious. "Oh!
but that was--different."

"I don't see why."

"Why, because she is married."

Cleeve burst out laughing. "I may be an infant," he said, "but I'm not
such an infant as to think that 'married or not married' has anything
to do with the question."

She laughed, too. "You are a charming infant, at all events. Perhaps
if you were a little older----"

"Well?"

"I might allow you to--do what you were warned against."

"Allow me?"

She rose, and went slowly to the foot of the stairs. Then she gathered
up her habit and turned.

"Yes, allow you to."

"You grant a great deal by that remark. How about the old 'I had no
idea of such a thing?'" he retorted.

She looked at him meditatively. "You know more than I had thought. How
old are you?"

"Nearly twenty-six," he answered, stretching a point. "Why?"

"Because my boy is only eleven. I