Page:The principal girl (IA principalgirl00snai).pdf/80

 say Minnie. Carlton is quite as expensive as the other box, although the crush is greater. You know Adela Rocklaw, don't you?"

"Met her at High Cliff," said Arminius casual-like. "Old Warlock's daughter. Girl you are engaged to."

"Not engaged exactly."

"Thought you were."

"Not exactly. Not official yet."

"Time it was then," said Arminius, with magisterial gravity. "Just the girl for you."

Perhaps.

Life itself is a great perhaps says—no, there hardly seems sufficient provocation to fix the blame upon any private individual for his venerable saw. But all the same, peut-être is perhaps the most important word in any tongue.

The morrow at the hour appointed brought forth the vain young fellow with Adela looking very smart, and Cousin Jane from Cumberland looking rather the reverse of fashionable. Precautions had been taken to book a comfortable table in a sequestered angle, where the Blue Bulgarian Bazoukas would be unable to wreck any conversation that might happen to be forthcoming.

The heir was feeling all to pieces, and Adela, as usual, was not so very gay. She had said Claridges' distinctly. Why had he not obeyed instructions?