Page:The Mystery of a Hansom Cab.djvu/177

Rh was inside writing letters and talking with old Mr. Valpy, and Brian gave a sigh of relief as he noted his absence. Madge caught sight of him as he came down the garden path, and flew quickly toward him with outstretched hands, as he took his hat off.

"How good of you to come," she said, in a delighted tone, as she took his arm; "and on such a hot day."

"Yes, it's something fearful in the shade," said pretty Mrs. Rolleston, with a laugh, putting up her sunshade.

"Pardon me if I think the contrary," replied Fitzgerald, bowing, with an expressive look at the charming group of ladies under the great tree.

Mrs. Rolleston blushed and shook her head.

"Ah! it's easy seen you come from Ireland, Mr. Fitzgerald," she observed as she resumed her seat. "You are making Madge jealous."

"So he is," answered Madge with a gay laugh. "I shall certainly inform Mr. Rolleston about you, Brian, if you make these gallant remarks,"

"Here he comes, then," said her lover, as Rolleston and Paterson, having finished their game walked off the tennis ground and joined the group under the tree. Though in tennis flannels they both looked remarkably warm, and, throwing his racket down, Mr. Rolleston followed its example with a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness its over and I have won," he said, wiping his heated brow; "galley slaves could not have worked harder than we have done, while all you idle folks sat sub tegmine fagi."

"Which means?" askenasked [sic] his wife lazily.

"That onlookers see most of the game," answered her husband impudently.

"I suppose that's what you call a free and easy translation," said Paterson, laughing. "Mrs. Rolleston ought to give you something for your new and original adaption of Virgil."

"Let it be iced, then," retorted Rolleston, lying full length on the ground, and staring up at the blue of the sky as seen through the network of leaves. "I always like my 'something' iced."

"It's a way you've got," said Madge, with a laugh, as she gave him a glass filled with some sparkling, golden