There has been a case of sun-stroke at Southbourne--a young lady meditating under the cliff--and she begs you to accept this palm leaf." I thought of the many miles I had wandered under the fierce Californian sun; but I would not speak to him of that.

"Thank you," I said; "it was very kind of her to think of it, and of you to do it.

But will it be safe for you to go back without it ?" "Oh, why should I do so ?" he answered, with a tone of mock pathos which provoked me always, though I never could believe it to be meant in ridicule of me, for that would have been too low a thing; and, besides, I never spoke so.

"Could you bear to see me slain by the shafts of the sun?
Miss Castlewood, this parasol is amply large for both of us." I would not answer him in his own vein, because I never liked his vein at all; though I was not so entirely possessed as to want every body to be like myself.
"Thank you; I mean to stay here," I said; "you may either leave the parasol or take it, whichever will be less troublesome.

At any rate, I shall not use it." A gentleman, according to my ideas, would have bowed and gone upon his way; but Sir Montague Hockin would have no rebuff.