The Knave of Diamonds

reakfast-table with a flourish of impatience. "And I do so want to he

read and honey, "consider yourself lucky that I have come down at all

ot going to believe anything so absurd." Nevertheless

and tumble about the ballroom, and yell comic-awfully comic-songs, till someone hauled h

! How utterly beastly!

he cleared out. I don't

w horrid for her! Ralph,

ld him for me. He is a drunken blackguard, and if he doesn't e

f apoplexy first," s

s funeral with the greatest pleasure. Hadn't you bett

g face. "Isn't Bertie late this morning? Perhaps he isn't coming. Dad won't be ab

ef-tea, not approaching dissolution. Old Squi

to swing it to and fro, gathering impetus for de

tie

l, of course

s not present. But Napoleon Errol was. It was he who so kindly shunted Mrs. Damer on to me. Nota bene! Give Napoleon Errol

sn't! He is as w

de he is the colour of a mangold-wurzel, and inside he is as b

ned to depart, and then exclaimed in a very different tone,

brown face that laughed good-tempere

you! What were you saying, I wonder? Hullo, Ralph! Only j

looking at Dot with the direct eyes of good-fello

ot. "He was sent for

t means a holiday.

will do," said Dot. "I

can make fudge too, real American fudge, the most aristocratic thing on the market.

a secret?" laughed Dot, le

promise," he sai

one," she

t you without

wonder if you are as

y bond-always

is," she admitted. "You are quite the honestest boy I ev

you like,"

rge! It suits you perfectly. I always did think Bertie was a

sterday. I was reading to him half the night. He couldn't

It grew softer, older, more womanly. "Yo

miles too good for any of us. Don't ever class him with N

mirth made Dot's eyes grow brighter. "

true gold and not a grain of dross. That's how it is we all knock under to him. Even Nap doe

of him, aren't you?" s

He's father and brother and friend to me. There isn't anything I w

," sai

est girl's dog from being run over. He did save it, but he was frightfully hurt-paralysed for months. It's years ago now. I

asked Dot rath

ith a brevity that spoke volumes. "I say, wha

ke to meet your brother," she remarked. "I've neve

mptly. "Come over and have tea. C

nt doubt. "I don't know wh

ghted. Come early and I'll show you the hunters. Nap has

then in haste, "No, I didn't

r shrewdly. "What do you

hing, nothing whatever. I

don't l

oks rather wicke

"Do you think I

I don't. No

l right. You can think

t even he is not a

teously. "Please don't be offended. You know I-I'm young. I don't know many people. And-and-though I would like to know your eldes

n quite serious, even stern. He was looking at her with a directness w

seconds. At length, "How ol

n," she

with something of a twang, "I guess your father knows what he's about, but it

aid quickly. "It isn't yo

got you were a parson's daughter. Well, it may be your father is right afte

said Dot, with confi

t a blackguard anyway," he said. "And I never shall be if you

d with relief that the diff