Page:The principal girl (IA principalgirl00snai).pdf/185

 whether anybody knew what things were comin' to, because he was quite sure that he didn't. And yes, there the young chap had got hold of her arm again, and, strike his lucky! they were chipping each other like one o'clock; and a dashed pretty girl, and not a bad-looking young chap either. And what were the pair o' turtledoves—as of course a chap of his experience could see with half an eye—quarrelling about? No, not quarrelling exactly, but chipping each other and cross-talking somewhat. And what was it all about? Why, a flat in Knightsbridge. You 'ave it, miss, and be thankful for the chawnce, and think yourself fortunate, which of course you are; and so is he if he gets you to go and arrange the flowers in the vases for him.

Down the street again they are going now, though, yet still conducting their heated argument. Granny would be furious, and so would Mother. And Father would cut him out of the succession—which of course he couldn't; and that, perhaps, was almost a pity. She would have to give up the provinces and break her contracts, and everything would be so uncomfortable for everybody—

"Except, old girl, for you and me."

"But that's rather selfish, isn't it, Phil-ipp?"

Phil-ipp dared say it was a little, but yet not altogether, because, after all, it was the way of human na