Page:Georgie by Dorothea Deakin, 1906.djvu/86

"Georgie" beautiful hair, she walked part way home with us—not quite to the gate of the Little Mansion but as far as she could, avoiding the village street.

And it was in the larch plantation that we came across Muggeridge and Anne. We heard their voices before we saw them, and Anne's was low and clear.

"I must keep my word to poor Georgie," we heard her say with a sigh, and I glanced at the object of her pity with some apprehension.

Muggeridge groaned audibly. "Why should two valuable lives be ruined and blasted because of that long-legged, conceited, empty-headed boy?" he asked moodily.

Georgie grew scarlet and plunged in upon them before I could restrain him. Drusilla gasped—the Goddess Girl giggled.

"My!" she whispered. "What a picnic!"

"Look here!" Georgie cried hotly. "If you think I'm the sort of chap to go 70