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“Tony dear, it does sound funny to say ‘when we go’—and yet it’s beautifully natural too.”

“Beautifully—but more by token, it won’t seem natural to Mrs. Taylor. I’d better interview her now, before my confidence oozes out. Let me take you back to your hotel.” . . .

The interview was not as bad as he expected. Tony kept up a smooth and constant flow of conversation, and Mrs. Taylor had hardly time to be suspicious. She had many questions to ask, but there were not enough opportunities.

“Did you say you were a cousin of Miss Learmonth’s?”

“A distant cousin,” said Tony with his frankest smile. He did not want to be drawn into a discussion on consanguinity.

“It was extremely strange that she should meet you here.”

“Extremely—she didn’t expect it, any more than I did. But now that we have cleared up an—unfortunate little misunderstanding, we shall go back to England together, and I am sure you will agree with me that it is best for us to marry as soon as possible. Pamela has no friend here except you, and you have been so good already———”

“Not at all. I mean, I was only too glad. But———” She stopped, uncertain.

“I knew we should agree,” said Tony contentedly. “We were thinking of next Monday, and———”

“Pardon me, but I must say this, at the risk of seeming very impertinent. You are both so young, are you sure you know your own minds?”

“Quite sure, and I can answer for Pamela.” He was grave enough now; this was a problem of his own.

“And—you tell me you have money in England, but———”

“Oh, that’s merely a matter of cabling. It’s very good of you to worry about these details, and I’m so glad you