I was sitting on the terrace, ready booted and
breeched, waiting for my horse to be brought round. Trix came
out and sat down by me.
"Where's Newhaven?" I asked.
"Oh, I don't always want Lord Newhaven!" she exclaimed
petulantly. "I sent him off for a walk--I'm going out in the
Canadian canoe with Mr. Ives."
"Oh, you are, are you?" said I, smiling. As I spoke, Jack Ives
ran up to us.
"I say, Miss Queenborough," he cried, "I've just got your message
saying you'd let me take you on the lake."
"Is it a great bore?" asked Trix, with a glance--a glance that
meant mischief.
"I should like it awfully, of course," said Jack; "but the fact
is I've promised to take Mrs. Wentworth--before I got your
message, you know."
Trix drew herself up.
"Of course, if Mrs. Wentworth----" she began.
"I'm very sorry," said Jack.
Then Miss Queenborough, forgetting--as I hope--or choosing to
disregard my presence, leaned forward and asked, in her most
coaxing tones:
"Don't you ever forget a promise, Mr. Ives?"
Jack looked at her. I suppose her dainty prettiness struck him
afresh, for he wavered and hesitated.
"She's gone upstairs," pursued the tempter, "and we shall be safe
away before she comes down again."
Jack shuffled with one foot on the gravel.
"I tell you what," he said; "I'll ask her if she minds me taking
you for a little while before I----"
I believe he really thought that he had hit upon a compromise
satisfactory to all parties.
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