back in a moment!"

"Ah your father?" Paul returned as she offered him her hand.

"Oh dear no, this isn't in my poor father's line. I mean Mr. St. George.
He has just left me to speak to some one--he's coming back. It's he who
brought me--wasn't it charming?"

"Ah that gives him a pull over me--I couldn't have 'brought' you, could
I?"

"If you had been so kind as to propose it--why not you as well as he?"
the girl returned with a face that, expressing no cheap coquetry, simply
affirmed a happy fact.

"Why he's a pere de famille. They've privileges," Paul explained. And
then quickly: "Will you go to see places with _me_?" he asked.

"Anything you like!" she smiled. "I know what you mean, that girls have
to have a lot of people--" Then she broke off: "I don't know; I'm free.
I've always been like that--I can go about with any one. I'm so glad to
meet you," she added with a sweet distinctness that made those near her
turn round.

"Let me at least repay that speech by taking you out of this squash," her
friend said. "Surely people aren't happy here!"

"No, they're awfully mornes, aren't they? But I'm very happy indeed and
I promised Mr. St. George to remain in this spot till he comes back. He's
going to take me away. They send him invitations for things of this