96 EMBARRASSING INTERVIEW. 



' If previously I had thought her beautiful, now 

 she looked absolutely lovely ; her colour heightened, 

 her brilliant black eyes flashing rays of fire, while 

 her mass of luxuriant, dark chestnut hair hung 

 loosely. Her little hands, decorated with pink, 

 shell-like nails, far superior as ornaments to any 

 jewels, and holding her unemployed sunshade during 

 her conversation, were every now and then raised 

 impatiently to give emphasis to her language. 



'Assuring her of the pleasure the interview 

 afforded me, I told her how much I regretted the 

 unpleasant termination to our game of bezique. 

 Continuing our walk, we steadily increased the 

 distance that intervened between us and town. I 

 felt rather embarrassed, scarcely knowing how to 

 act, believing that this interview if known would be 

 regarded as intentional, and probably might embroil 

 me in a quarrel, which must reflect unpleasantly 

 on all concerned. The conversation commencing to 

 flag, the lady at length complained of fatigue ; and 

 as she rested on the bank I stood in front, believing 

 it better not to sit by her side. My formality 

 evidently hurt her, for after a pause she exclaimed, 

 " Why, sir, you have lost your manners ! you are 

 not half as pleasant a companion as I imagined you 

 to be. Are you afraid? you need not be so. My 

 husband is too great a craven to do you any harm, 

 unless it were dark, and you were unarmed and 

 unprepared." 



' In delivering this speech she became so excited, 



