Page:The principal girl (IA principalgirl00snai).pdf/216

 "Of course you will, Horace, and many a better one," said the Uncrowned Queen of Blackhampton, having with her ready tact and her quick observation detected the plight of the unhappy Twin Brethren who were blenching a little under their tan.

Not so far off were a pair of Contemporaries, out of sight, perchance, yet by no means out of hearing.

"Why, if it isn't that damned fool Shel, with his mésalliance!"

"No—yes—my God!"

"Rather nice, though, in spite of the friends of the family."

"Let us go and pull the leg of the silly old fool, and make him turn out for us to-morrow."

Whereupon the Contemporaries rose from their table, very finely grown young men and superbly tailored, as all distinguished athletes should be.

"Why, Shel, old man, how are you?"

Hearty hand-grips were exchanged, although the Twin Brethren were not feeling so very robust at present.

"Fancy meeting you here!"

There was no particular reason why they shouldn't meet there, but it is always a useful opening card. And then the Olympians were introduced to Mary, and pretty keenly did they scrutinize her, although they pretended so well that they were doing nothing of the sort that it