A Damsel in Distress

s of two and four. It was a tradition of long standing, this periodical lowering of the barriers, and had always been faithfully observed by

f Great Britain extremely seriously-heartily disliked it in practice. More than once he had been obliged to exit hastily by a further door in order to keep from being discovered by a drove of touri

ed with the sweet. No one was better aware than himself that the nobility of his manner, excellent as a means of impressing the mob, worked against him when it came to a question of tips. Again and again had he been harrowed by the spectacle of tourists, huddled together like sheep, debating among themselves in nervous whispers as to whether they could offer this personage anything so contemptible as half a cr

s stained corduroys and pottered about his beloved garden; and when, as happened on an average once a quarter, some visitor, strayed from the main herd, came upon him as he worked and mistook him for one of the gard

oing any further I would like to call your attention to Sir Peter Lely's portrait of-" It was his custom to begin his Thursday lectures with this remark, but t

ness' sak

vision in blue. She wore a dust-coat and a motor veil,

e, George, what ar

ng to ask you t

sprockets or the differential gear or whatever it was. He's coming to pick me up when he's through. But, on the level, George, how do you get this way? You sneak out of town and leave the show flat,

had seemed to him the only natural course to pursue. He had not realized that he would be m

hat. I-well, I just h

iving in this

the road. I wanted a few days

de you choos

ese disturbers of the peace with

ot mind, madam.

y. Come along, George. Get in the game." She nodded cheerfully to th

rely, and cleared

uld like to call your attention to Sir Peter Lely's portrait of

ssive of wonder and awe, like a gentle breeze rustling l

to get you. You see, the summertime number flopped on the second night, and they hadn't anything to put in its place. But it's all right.

the sho

as I can make it out you don't call it a success in London unle

And how is every

him. Anybody but an infant could see the man wasn't on the level. Well, I don't

at commanded a sweep of miles of the countryside, rolling and green and wooded. Far away beyon

rld. I'd like to stand here for the

race the Dook of Lochlane, 'urled 'imself out of this window in order to avoid compromising the beautiful Countess of Marshmoreton, with oom 'e is related to 'ave 'ad a ninnocent romance. Surprised at an advanced hour by 'i

e recital of the ready tact of th

ust a mass of Leonard's Leaps and things. I'd like to settle down in this sort of place and s

ure, "proceed to the Amber Drawing-Room, containing so

began to drift

e-step the Amber Drawing-Room? I'm wild to get into that garden. Th

below them a sturdy, brown-faced man in co

as you

ut the Gobelin Tapestry, came to their ears like the roll of distant drums. They wandered out tow

d Billie amiably,

n of middle age, with the kind eyes of a friendly dog.

stopp

en't you! If I was a man, there's nothing I'd like better than to put in my eight hours in a rose-garde

ond of ros

y kind here that was ever invente

usand varieties," said the

n't teach me anything about roses. I'm the

as the only thing on earth that mattered. This revelation of a kindred s

r there are Ayr

a. At least, I never ran across t

t the ri

d lots o

re ri

on Billie Dore's face that Geo

his matter of rose-beetle

. He had visited the castle this afternoon without any settled plan other than a vague hope that he might somehow see Maud. He now perceived that there was no chance of doing this. Evidently, on Thursdays, the family went

inspect the library. It was an easily accessible room, opening off the main hall. He left Billie and her new fri

was possible that he drank. He might forget or lose the precious note. So, with a wary eye on the door, George hastily scribbled it in dupli

da. I've given him my address, and he's promised to send me a whole lot of roses. By the way,

h at the wheel

opping music. To

George. See you

ve my love t

t her rip, Fre

od-

drive. George returned to the man in corduroys,

rst of the notes. "Give this to Lady Maud the first chance y

her nearly purple in the face, and was anxious to leave him. He w

ies are won by those who take no chances. He had wandered perhaps a hundred yards from the rose-garden when he encountered a small boy in the ma

earn half a crow

ue of messenge

ing held h

note to L

ght

t reaches h

the page, having bitten his half-crown, placed it in his pocket. Then he