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 message by a boy I met, saying that a lady who wished to speak to him was waiting for him at the entrance to the wood.

I waited about half an hour. At last I saw him coming quickly along the road. I stood amongst the trees, holding the sunshade so that he should not at once recognise me. Not until I heard his step close by did I come forward, letting the sunshade fall.

'Is it you?' he exclaimed, and at the same moment I understood what a stupid thing I had done.

'Who else should it be?'

'No; of course not. I only thought that perhaps it was a joke the others were playing on me. Forgive me for being so long in coming to you. I was at the hotel playing croquet. How nice it is to see you. Are you here with your parents?'

'I am alone. I simply came out to see you.'

'To see me! but it is impossible for us to be seen together.'

'I thought we might have gone for a long walk.'

For a moment we stood looking at each other. Then he said: 'I think I'd better tell you straight out how it is: I hope you won't be angry with me; you know how disappointed I am that I cannot spend the afternoon with you. But a number of the people here have arranged a big picnic in which I have absolutely promised to take part. You see, I could not possibly———'

'No; of course not,' I interrupted, 'how could