The Princess Passes

n Di

y, from me

d wood and

ilent wi

Bysshe

e girl in the eyes. She had the grace to blush, which was the

of it

nd loose with my health-a possession usually treated as we treat the poor, whom we expect to have always with us. Helen Blantock

as she had been the prettiest in London; and I shared with other normal, self-respecting men the amiable weakness

feared at first; but it had softened for me, and I accepted the omen. In the spring, when my London tyrant had pronounced me "sound as a bell," I had proposed to Helen. The

ose that she did it to please her daughter. It happened to be my birthday, and I fancied that Helen had kep

ing face; there was Sir Horace Jerveyson, the richest grocer in the world, whom I suspected Lady Blantock of actually regarding as a human being, and a suitable successor to the late Sir James. Besides these, there was only myself, Montagu Lane; and I be

me, should I live for a hundred years, each future entrée of each future dinner would recall the sensation of this m

hey were going to Switzerland to try the new Mercédès, which had been given as a

on what he meant to do. Hardly did I even expect to hear his answer, for I was loo

r, in his fat voice, which might have been oiled with his own b

ncement?" she twittered. "Nell and Sir Horace have been engaged a whole day. It will be

ank to the girl's happiness, l

ke a speech, and was tactfully suppressed by the future mother-in-law. I am sure, though, that it was Helen who pre

over. I shall run across to France and wander for a while. Eventually, I shall end up at Mon

t Jack was of no importance to me at the instant. I was talking at Helen, and she, too, would understand. I hoped t

at first, so I give it the benefit of the doubt) through the night into the next day, while other people ate breakfast and even luncheon, the moments could not have dragged more heavily. But when it appeared that we must have reached a ripe old age-those of us who had been young with the evening-Lady Blantock thought we migh

hotel, for in reality there had been no engagement. "Thank you-and good-bye." I

t you coming

Molly. "Please let us take

shed dinner," I

sts of conversation. Look, here's the car. Isn't she a beauty? Can you resist her? Such

. But seriously, though you're very good, I th

r, Lord Lane, and might deceive a man, but-I'm a woman. Jac

the new car, and I was given the seat of honour beside her. By this time the streets were comparatively clear of traffic, and we shot away as if we had been propelled from a catapult, Molly co

ions, and besides, I rather hoped that Molly and her Mercédès would kill me. My nerves were too numb to tell my brain of any remarkable sensations in the new experience, but I rem

honeymoon somewhere in the bride's native country, and had come "home" to England only a little more than a fortnight ago. Jack's father, Lord Brighthelmston, had furnished the house as his gift to the bride, and as he is a famo

d loosens the tongue. I have reason to believe that on the table there were things to eat, and especially to drink, but we gave

ghter?" inquired Molly, with the meek sweetness of a coaxing chi

marked impersonally, addressing the

r, except to please you. I've known them only thirteen days, but I could have said the same thing when I'd known

ile to the name which he had earned in playing the part of M

use in our warning men who think they are in love with Calculating Cats, because they would be certain we were jealous. Of cours

proposed to Nell," I

rveyson was at

to Lady B

antock. I noticed, and-

thought of putting

and afterwards to Jack-ma

hurts, it will be

avos, so I was interested. Then I saw her at the ball, and we were introduced. She was pretty, but-a prize white Persian kitten is pretty; also it has little claws. She liked you, o

s 'hearl,'"

, dear, you may give Lord Lane encouragement up to a certain point, for it would be nice to be a countess; but don't let him propose yet. Who knows what may happen?' Then what did happen was Sir Horace Jerveyson, who has more pound

t day is not yet," I answered. "Ho

rows in roulette?" asked

kno

ack. "Have you forgotten what I told y

fore he met Miss Blantock? Now I see. You said that you were go

ed. "But the Countess is fascinating, and if she would be kind, Mont

ue. Oh, if I could prove to you that you aren

d be dif

it, if you'll tak

is t

In other words, Jack's and my soc

scord in the mus

, we want you

I'm in no mood for companionship. The fact is, I'm stunned for the mom

broke in Molly. "On the contrary

who did, but it sounds appropriate. I should like to do a walking tour alone in the desert, if it were not for the annoyi

nted in love!" exclaimed Molly. "Why, I have a fri

ly to trace a leaf on the damask tablecloth. "I have thought of just the thing for you," she said, apparently apropos of nothing. "Why don't you buy or hire a mule to carry your lugg

whose aim is to be clean, is more or less helpless. If he has a weakness for a sponge bag, a clean shirt

cally, "unless you count the muleteer,

s have dispositions

ea a bright one, reward it by going with Jack and me as far a

ng to tool me out on your motor car as far as Lucerne, I should be an ungrateful brute to re

ng on the fir

! No

day on the car for

no appeal. But man can do no more than propose; and woman-even American woman-cannot invariab