Miss Buckston, among the nets they spread for her, plunged and floundered like a good-tempered bull--at first with guileless acquiescence in the game, and then with growing bewilderment.

They flouted gay cloaks before her dizzy eyes, and planted ribboned darts in her quivering shoulders.

Even Althea could not accuse them of aggressiveness or rudeness.

They never put themselves forward; they were there already.

They never twisted the tail of the British lion; they never squeezed the eagle; they were far too secure under his wings for that.