"So do I, but I suppose they are as difficult to get as anything else. I'm afraid I'll be very hard to please. Of course, it's a difficult thing to choose a person to live with."

"Even in marriage."

Kaituna blushed, and folded up the paper in a somewhat embarrassed fashion.

"Marriage is a lottery," she said at length, with an attempt at lightness.

"I think I've heard that remark before."

"Very likely. It's hard to say anything original nowadays."

"I suppose," said Archie, after a pause, "that when your chaperon is chosen by Mr. Dombrain, she will come down here."

"Oh, dear, no. I'm going home next week with the Valpys."

"Home?"

"Yes. To Thornstream, near Deswarth, in Berkshire. Papa's house, you know."

"And I'll never see you again," he said dismally.

"Oh, I don't know; the world is small."

Maxwell groaned in vexation of spirit, thinking that the heart of this desirable maiden was as the flint which is hard; and the maiden herself, having thus worried her mouse, consoled it in a pleasant fashion.

"Besides, Berkshire is not very far from London."

"I know that, of course, but I have no acquaintances in Deswarth."

"Oh, fie! What about Mrs. Valpy!"

"Mrs. Valpy! of course, I quite forgot Mrs. Valpy," said Archie, determined to pay court at once to the old lady. "You know I like Mrs. Valpy."

"Since when?" asked Kaituna, mischievously.

Archie took out his watch gravely, and looked at it.

"To be exact, since a minute ago."

 Prev. P 18/257 next