"Three?" echoed the Imp. "But Dorothy has gone out to tea, you
know - is Uncle Dick going to - "

"To be sure, Imp," I nodded.

"Oh, that is fine - hurrah, Little-John!" he cried, and darted off
to ward the house.

"And you, Lisbeth?" I said, imprisoning her hands, "are you glad
also?"

Lisbeth did not speak, yet I was satisfied nevertheless.



III

THE DESPERADOES


Fane Court stands bowered in trees, with a wide stretch of the
greenest of green lawns sloping down to the river stairs.

They are quaint old stairs, with a marble rail and carved balusters,
worn and crumbling, yet whose decay is half hid by the kindly green
of lichens and mosses; stairs indeed for an idle fellow to dream
over on a hot summer's afternoon - and they were, moreover, a
favourite haunt of Lisbeth. It was here that I had moored my boat,
therefore and now lay back, pipe in mouth and with a cushion beneath