‘I see nothing strange in it. It is so many years since we met.’ ‘It is indeed. Let me see how many—four, five, six?’ ‘Five.’ ‘Five years ago. By Jove! so it is. I was a nice article at that time, I dare say; I hope you will find me improved now, Miss Marsh. However, to return to my story: it was not the first visit I had paid to Rille, for I was over there last autumn, when I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Mr. Lovett and his daughters.’ ‘On the occasion of the Bishop of Otaheite holding a confirmation there,’ interposed Mr. Lovett, ‘Tessie and Ange were both confirmed. They had not had an opportunity of being so before, as, when the last Protestant bishop visited Rille, Ange was too young and Tessie had the measles. Young Stephenson was confirmed too, if I remember rightly. A nice-looking lad with fair hair.’ ‘Yes, that is he! I am going to ask you by-and-by, Mr. Lovett, if I may have him over here for a day’s shooting. I promised him a holiday, and my coming to St. Pucelle sooner than I intended cut him out of it.’ ‘Certainly! We shall be delighted to see your cousin, or any friends of yours, Mr. Charteris.’ ‘Thanks, so much! Well, Miss Marsh, where was I?’ ‘I am not quite sure,’ I answered slowly. ‘You were going to tell us how it came to pass that you met papa again,’ said Ange, blushing violently at the sound of her own voice. I saw Cave Charteris’s eyes rest on her admiringly, and the thought of what Mrs. Carolus had told me just flashed across my mind and made me turn a little more sick than I was before. Only for a moment, though; the next I knew that nothing could make any difference to the relations in which he and I now stood to one another. I am not a woman hard of belief, but where I have been once deceived, I never trust again. Cave Charteris’s pleasant voice roused me from my reverie. ‘Ah! just so. Thank you, Miss Lovett, for the reminder. Whatever else I may forget, you may rest assured I shall never forget the occasion of my first visit to Rille! Well, there I was stranded last week in one of my very worst humours—and when you have seen me in one of my very worst humours, I do not think you will ever wish for the pleasure again. I have a shocking bad temper, Miss Lovett!’ He said ‘Miss Lovett,’ but he meant Ange; and the little maid laughed softly to herself in answer. I am quite sure she did not believe him. ‘I had given up my rooms in Paris, and gone to Rille for a few days _en route_ to my own “diggings.” And there I received a letter to say that scarlet fever had broken out at home, and I must not think of crossing till the doctor said it would be safe for me to do so.’ ‘Oh dear! how sad!’ exclaimed Tessie, sympathetically. She was our only spokeswoman.