Suzanne! Suzanne! come and send away this half-clad fellow." Putting down my papers I ran from the room and at a single glance saw that "the half-clad fellow" was none other than Ralph himself.

In my delight I lost my head, and forgetting everything except that my betrothed was there before me, I sprang from the _stoep_ and, flying up the little slope, I fell into his open arms.

For a few seconds there was silence, then from behind me rose a dreadful shriek followed by cries for help.

Freeing myself from Ralph's embrace, I looked round to see my great-grandmother hobbling towards us with uplifted stick.

Ralph put his eye-glass in his eye and looked at her.
"Who is this old lady, Suzanne ?" he asked.
Before I could answer there came from her lips such a torrent of indignation as I had never heard before.
"What is she saying ?" asked Ralph again, who could not understand one word of Dutch.