side of woman's dress, and I was remarking that your goloshes were such an eyesore it would be as well to remove them."

"Remove my goloshes?" I repeated stupidly.

“Yes,” he said, a shade impatiently. "You must admit that they are not beautiful. I expect you wear them from force of habit-been brought up to them in the country; but they are not necessary if your boots are stout."

"But they're not; I should catch my death of cold," I said.

“Oh, well, I don't want you to do that," he said somewhat grudgingly. "But in future you will have stouter boots for my sake, won't you?"

I laughed.

"If you wish it," I said; "but what-what an original man you are, Eustace. It seems so funny to mind a thing like a pair of goloshes.

"Yes, I have always been considered a little original,” he replied, taking my arm, "and I am glad you are willing to meet me in the matter. It shows a nice, yielding spirit."

"Oh, I never mind giving in about little things that don't matter," I said cheerfully, and I was surprised to see a shade of annoyance pass over his face; but I did not appear to notice it, and asked him if he could teach me the correct pronunciation of Don Quixote, which he very kindly did, and a lot of other things as well.

CHAPTER XXVI

Eustace Annoys Me, and I Retire to My Room to Sew

I

time.

AM sitting up in my room gently fuming at
Eustace. We
We have been engaged barely a
week, and we have just quarrelled for the third

Now if we had been married a year, I might have looked upon it as a natural and laudable desire to wish to fling things at Eustace's head. But an engagement of a week's standing! Surely there must be something wrong.

And, of course, it is all his fault. I have been reading Jeremy Taylor and trying to delude myself into believing that it is mine; but I know it isn't. A man who is engaged to a girl has no right to speak so to her; and when I look back upon the provocation given, I marvel at the restraint I showed.

We had been out for a drive in the dog-cart. The afternoon for the time of the year was perfect, with thousands of little white cloudlets sailing along in a turquoise-blue velvet sky. Eustace drives well, and as we ripped along with the fresh wind blowing in our faces, my spirits, which had been depressed,

went up with a rush. I love driving, and I love the fresh wind and the white clouds and quiet fields. I was gay, and Eustace expansive, and all went as merry as a marriage bell till our return home, when in getting out he said suddenly, "Not that foot first. How ignorant! Surely you know better?" His voice was so sharp and displeased that in my flurry and agitation I fell out, and scraped my hands and barked my knees on the sharp gravel. I picked myself up quickly, expecting to find him simply overcome with remorse, when to my intense chagrin all he said was

"You really must be more careful. Of course if you get out of a carriage with the wrong foot foremost you must expect to fall. I am very sorry, dear, but it will be a lesson to you in future."

I stared at him for a moment dumfounded; angry tears rushed to my eyes. How could he speak so? I stalked into the house without vouchsafing any reply.

The gong had just sounded for tea, and Aunt Menelophe was crossing the hall to the drawing

room.

66

"Look where you are going, Hazel; don't walk over me," she said. What is the matter?" "Aunt Menelophe," I answered, "I simply detest

men."

66

Already?" she said, laughing. "I knew it would come sooner or later, but this is earlier than I expected."

"What do you mean?" I asked, clutching at her

arm.

"I mean exactly what I say; but I should prefer your not pinching me. Come and have some tea." "Of course I was only generalizing."

"Of course," she agreed.

Eustace came in a few minutes later with beautifully brushed hair, and handed me muffins in the friendliest fashion. He was evidently quite unaware that I was having a deadly quarrel with him; and is there anything more exasperating than to be at loggerheads with a person who is oblivious of the fact? He made a healthy tea, and talked to Aunt Menelophe of Wedgwood pottery.

"Are you coming to the library, dear?" he asked when we had finished tea and were alone.

"No," I said.

"You would prefer staying here?"

"No, I wouldn't."

66

'Where, then, would you like to go?" he persisted

in a patient voice.

"I am going to my room.

My tones were chilling.

There is a fire there."

"Won't that be a little dull ?" he asked.

"Not at all. I usually prefer my own society to that of my fellow-creatures."

"But of course there are exceptions?" he queried with a smile. "You are probably referring to women?" "On the contrary," I retorted, "I find women

infinitely more entertaining than men.

Aunt Menelophe-now could you mention a man more interesting and delightful than she?"

"Mrs. Menzies is a charming woman, but-yes, certainly I have met one or two men who

He twisted his mustache and glanced at himself in a mirror.

I got up and walked toward the door.

"Are you really going?" he said querulously. "I was looking forward to this little, quiet time before dinner. I have something I want to read to youFlaubert's Salammbo. The writing is magnificent -such vivid coloring. It is a classic in its way. Probably you don't know it? Your reading does not appear to have been extensive."

"No," I replied, "I don't know it, and if it is a classic it is sure to be dull, and I know I shall hate it."

He looked positively shocked.

"I don't like to hear you speak so," he said, "even in fun."

"I'm not in fun," I retorted. "I feel more like Molly Bawn or Comin' Thro' The Rye. I adore Comin' Thro' The Rye. I'll stay if you'll read me some of that, the bit where Paul proposes to Nell.” He smiled.

"You will have your little joke," he said. "They are pretty little stories. But come, take off your hat, and we'll begin Salammbo."