"You must not believe all Colonel Ormonde says," observed the fair widow, smiling and slightly shaking her head. "He is a very faithless man."
"By George! Mrs. Liddell, I don't deserve such a character from _you_. But"--addressing Katherine, who had simply looked at him with quiet, contemplative eyes--"I hope you have recovered from your fright of yesterday. I never saw eyes or cheeks express terror so eloquently."
"Yes, I was dreadfully frightened, and very, very grateful to the gentleman who saved poor Cecil. I hope he was not hurt?"
"Shall I tell him to come and report himself in person?"
"Wouldn't you like to thank him again? It might be a pleasant process to both parties--eh?"
Katherine smiled good-humoredly, while she thought, "What an idiot!"
"Katherine is a very serious young woman," said Mrs. Frederic--"quite too awfully in earnest; is always striving painfully to do her duty. She despises frivolities and never dreams of flirtation."
"This is an appalling description," said Ormonde. "Pray is it on principle you renounce flirtation?"
"For a much better reason," replied Katherine, wearily. "Because I have no one to flirt with."
"By Jove! there's a state of destitution! Why, it is a blot on society that you should be left lamenting."
"Yes; is it not melancholy?" replied Katherine, carelessly. "Ada, I am so tired I am sure you will excuse me if I go away to rest?"
"Before you go," said Ormonde, eagerly, "I have a request to make. A chum of mine, Sir James Brereton, and myself are going up the river on Thursday, with some friends of Mrs. Liddell's--a picnic affair. Your sister-in-law has promised to honor me with her company, and I earnestly hope _you_ will accompany her. I promise you shall be induced to rescind your anti-flirtation resolutions."
"Up the river?" repeated Katherine, with a wistful look, and paused. "On Thursday next? Thank you very much, but I'm engaged--quite particularly engaged."
"Nonsense, Katie!" cried her sister-in-law. "Where in the world are you going? You know you never have an engagement anywhere."
"Come, Miss Liddell, do not be cruel. We will have a very jolly day, and I'll try and persuade your hero of yesterday to meet you."
"I should like to go very much, but I really cannot. I thank you for thinking of me." She stood up, and, with a slight bow, said, "Good-morning," leaving the room before the stout Colonel could reach the door to open it.
