"Won't there be a scolding for this!" whispered Clara. "We shall both have impositions." "I don't care," I said, recklessly. "I should not mind if I slipped again." "Slipped!" said Clara, satirically; "that was a pretty slip, certainly. I never saw so clumsy a one, but it answered capitally." "What do you mean?" I said, innocently. "Oh, of course, you don't know, dear," said Clara, growing more and more satirical. "But there, never mind, I have both the notes." "What notes?" I ejaculated, with my heart beginning to beat--oh, so fast! "Now, don't be a little stupid," said Clara, "when you know all the time. The Signor dropped them into my parasol, as I held it down half shut, and there they are--for I have not dared to take them out yet." And there, sure enough, were two tiny brown paper squares, looking for all the world like packets of garden seeds, so as not to catch any one's eye when they were delivered--tied up, too, with little bits of string, so as not to be in the least like what they were. Though, really, it was too bad to try and make out that the whole thing was planned, and that I had slipped on purpose. Now, was it not? "Why, what dear, lovable ingenuity," I could not help exclaiming. "And is one for you then, dear?" "And why not, pray?" exclaimed Clara; "why should not I have notes as well as somebody, who has her meetings as well?" "I'm sure I don't," I exclaimed. "How can you say so? Why, you know I did not meet him." "Not your fault, my dear," said Clara, sarcastically. "But there, I'm not complaining; but when I am so open and confidential, I'm sure you need not be so close." "Now, did you not promise to forget all that?" I said. "Well, yes, so I did," she replied; "and I won't say any more about it. But this was clever, wasn't it; and I'm sure I give you every credit for managing that slip so well." "Indeed--indeed--indeed--indeed!" I said, "it was an accident." But it was no use whatever; and the more I protested, the more the tiresome thing would not believe me; till I grew so cross I could have pinched her, only that I could not afford to quarrel just then. By means of changing parasols, I obtained possession of my note; and then, how long the time did seem before we received our orders to turn back! But I learnt, though, from Clara, that Achille had made quite a confidante of the Signor, and that they were both planning together for us to have a long meeting. "But how do you get to know all this?" I said. "Do you suppose, miss, that no one else but you can manage to pass and receive notes so cleverly?" she replied. I could not make any answer, for somehow or another Clara generally managed to get the better of me.