The latter managed to reach the summer-house first, with apparently youthful alacrity, but really to exchange, in a single glance, some mysterious feminine signal with Yerba.

Then she said with breathless infelicity:-- "Before you two get bored with each other now, I must tell you there's a chance of you having more time.

Aunty has promised to send off a note excusing you to the Reverend Mother, if she can persuade Mr.
Hathaway to stay over to-night.

But here they are.

[To Yerba] Aunty is most anxious, and won't hear of his going." Indeed, it seemed as if Mrs.Woods was, after a refined fashion, most concerned that a distinguished visitor like Mr.Hathaway should have to use her house as a mere accidental meeting-place with his ward, without deigning to accept her hospitality.