“Was he? Didn’t see him. Lord, doesn’t she look ripping?” There is always some slight discomfort attached to a meeting which is seen, while yet a long way off, to be coming, a difficulty in knowing the right moment to cease being absorbed in the landscape or in intelligent conversation with your friend, and to become conscious of it in proper time to apply a suitable smile of recognition to the face. David, with his tingling heart, managed it with wonderful ill-success. He put on a brilliant smile long before it could be seen at all, and, feeling as if his cheeks would crack, took it completely off again. Then he tried to talk to Bags in a natural manner, and pointed to nothing at all away to the right. Then he proceeded to talk to Bags again much too long, and did not look up till the adorable one was but a couple of yards off. On came the smile of recognition again, and he took off his hat and dropped it. And, alas for the hope of being asked to tea, when he picked up his hat again, the vision had already gone by, and it was only the most instantaneous return of his smile that he reaped from all those muddled manœuvres. So on they went, Bags with face red from suppressed giggles. “What are you laughing at, you ass?” asked David in an indignant whisper. “I don’t see anything funny.” “No, you wouldn’t. You were the funny man.” “What did I do!” demanded David. “First you grinned an awful grin miles too soon,” said Bags. “Then you looked as grave as a judge with indigestion. Then, miles too late, you gave another awful grin and dropped your hat. Sorry you didn’t get your tea, but it was too funny for anything.” David was radically incapable of ill-humour for more than a few seconds at a time, and grinned in a less awful manner. “I never felt such a silly fool,” he said. “And I’m not sure I like that man. What do you suppose they were talking about so interestedly?” “Can’t say; run back and ask them,” said Bags. “I thought he looked rather a decent chap. Awfully good-looking too; a bit like Maddox.” David gave a snort of disdain. “Like your grandmother,” he observed in a withering manner. “Which one? I’ve got two.” David took hold of Bags by the shoulders, and ran him down the bit of steep hill to the gate. “The ugliest,” he said. “And the fattest. And the beastliest. I say, though, it was rather a sell for me.” “Complete suck,” said Bags. * * * * *