you about this later.' I could see she was not quite satisfied in her own mind whether Harold Tillington and I had not arranged this coup together. I put on my hat and strolled off into the garden, and then along the mossy hill path. In a minute more, Harold Tillington was beside me. He seated me, half against my will, on a rustic bench.[Pg 52] 'Look here, Miss Cayley,' he said, with a very earnest face; 'is this really true? Are you going to-morrow?' [Pg 52] My voice trembled a little. 'Yes,' I answered, biting my lip. 'I am going. I see several reasons why I should go, Mr. Tillington.' 'But so soon?' 'Yes, I think so; the sooner the better.' My heart was racing now, and his eyes pleaded mutely. 'Then where are you going?' I shrugged my shoulders, and pouted my lips a little. 'I don't know,' I replied. 'The world is all before me where to choose. I am an adventuress,' I said it boldly, 'and I am in quest of adventures. I really have not yet given a thought to my next place of sojourn.' 'But you will let me know when you have decided?' It was time to speak out. 'No, Mr. Tillington,' I said, with decision. 'I will not let you know. One of my reasons for going is, that I think I had better see no more of you.' He flung himself on the bench at my side, and folded his hands in a helpless attitude. 'But, Miss Cayley,' he cried, 'this is so short a notice; you give a fellow no chance; I hoped I might have seen more of you—might have had some opportunity of—of letting you realise how deeply I admired and respected you—some opportunity of showing myself as I really am to you—before—before——' he paused, and looked hard at me. I did not know what to say. I really liked him so much; and when he spoke in that voice, I could not bear to seem cruel to him. Indeed, I was aware at the moment how much I had grown to care for him in those six short days. But I knew it was impossible. 'Don't say it, Mr. Tillington,' I murmured, turning my face away. 'The less said, the sooner mended.'[Pg 53] [Pg 53] I ROSE OF A SUDDEN, AND RAN DOWN THE HILL. 'But I must,' he cried. 'I must tell you
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