"Not for me,"--shaking his head. She was very pretty, and under
ordinary circumstances . . . He did not finish the thought, but I
will for him. Under ordinary circumstances, M'sieu Zhames would have
kissed her.

"No teach you French? _Non?_ Extra_orrd_inaire!" She
tripped away, laughing, while the chef tugged at his royal and M'sieu
Zhames whistled.

"Hang the witch!" the new groom murmured. "Her mistress must be very
generous, or very positive of her own charms, to keep a sprite like
this maid about her. I wonder if I'll run into Karloff?" Karloff! The
name chilled him, somehow. What was Karloff to her? Had he known that
she was to be in Washington for the winter? What irony, if fate
should make him the groom and Karloff the bridegroom! If Karloff
loved her, he could press his suit frankly and openly. And, as
matters stood, what chance on earth had he, Warburton? "Chuck was
right; I've made a mistake, and I am beginning to regret it the very
first morning." He snapped his fingers and proceeded to the right
wing, where the horses were.

At nine o'clock he led Jane and Dick out to the porte-cochere and
waited. He had not long to loiter, for she came out at once, drawing
on her gauntlets and taking in long breaths of the morning air. She
nodded briefly, but pleasantly, and came down the steps. Her riding-
habit was of the conventional black, and her small, shapely boots
were of patent-leather. She wore no hat on her glorious head, which
showed her good sense and her scorn for freckles and sunburn. But
nature had given her one of those rare complexions upon which the sun
and the wind have but trifling effect.