Miss Earle did not look at all pleased at this remark. She coloured
slightly, and, taking the open book from her lap, began to read.

"You are quite welcome to the chair," replied Morris, and the moment the
words were spoken he felt that somehow it was one of those things he
would rather have left unsaid, as far as Miss Earle was concerned. "I
beg that you will not disturb yourself," he continued; and, raising his
hat to the lady, he continued his walk.

A chance acquaintance joined him, changing his step to suit that of
Morris, and talked with him on the prospects of the next year being
a good business season in the United States. Morris answered rather
absent-mindedly, and it was nearly lunch-time before he had an
opportunity of going back to see whether or not Miss Earle's companion
had left. When he reached the spot where they had been sitting he found
things the very reverse of what he had hoped. Miss Earle's chair was
vacant, but her companion sat there, idly turning over the leaves of the
book that Miss Earle had been reading. "Won't you sit down, Mr. Morris?"
said the young woman, looking up at him with a winning smile. "Miss
Earle has gone to dress for lunch. I should do the same thing, but,
alas! I am too indolent."

Morris hesitated for a moment, and then sat down beside her.

"Why do you act so perfectly horrid to me?" asked the young lady,
closing the book sharply.

"I was not aware that I acted horridly to anybody," answered Morris.