particularly radiant and charming, already presiding at that meal and
conversing in her best French to the foreign gentlemen, who were paying
her compliments.

"Forgive me for being late," he said; "first of all I have been
talking to your uncle, and afterwards skimming through the articles in
yesterday's papers on our little venture which comes out to-morrow. A
cheerful occupation on the whole, for with one or two exceptions they
are all favourable."

"Mon Dieu," said the French gentlemen on the right, "seeing what
they did cost, that is not strange. Your English papers they are so
expensive; in Paris we have done it for half the money."

Barbara and some of the guests laughed outright, finding this frankness
charming.

"But where have you been, Miss Champers? I thought that we were going to
have a round of golf together. The caddies were there, I was there, the
greens had been specially rolled this morning, but there was no You."

"No," she answered, "because Major Vernon and I walked to church and
heard a very good sermon upon the observance of the Sabbath."

"You are severe," he said. "Do you think it wrong for men who work hard
all the week to play a harmless game on Sunday?"

"Not at all, Sir Robert." Then she looked at him and, coming to a sudden
decision, added, "If you like I will play you nine holes this afternoon
and give you a stroke a hole, or would you prefer a foursome?"