In a very flutter of delight, Alfred hurried to the spot where Lizzie was waiting for him. He did not pause to reflect upon the strange manner in which she had been brought to the place; it was sufficient for him that she was here, that the day was bright, and that Mr. Sheldrake had promised him to see that his acceptance to Con Staveley would be made all right. "It is only for a little while," he said to himself, as he came to the gates of Bushey Park; "when the Cesarewitch is run, I shall be all right. I daresay Sheldrake will put something on for me." Attracted by the crowd assembled round the street acrobats, he paused, and saw Lizzie. He saw also a pale-looking woman on the opposite side observing her; but this did not strike him as being worthy of notice. He looked round at the men and women who were admiringly following the movements of the acrobats, and noticed, with a feeling of as much pride as pleasure, that Lizzie was the most attractive and prettiest of them all. "Lizzie!" he whispered in her ear. "O, Alfred!" The girl turned at the sound of his voice with such unrestrained joy in her face, that Martha Day bit her colourless lip until a blood-stain came upon it. "Who ever expected to see you here, Lizzie?" "Are you disappointed?" asked Lizzie archly. "If you are, I'll go back again." In earnest of her sincerity, she took his arm, and clung to it. Alfred laughed. "It looks as if you wanted to go back," he said, with admiring glances at her. "O, Alfred, isn't this a delightful surprise?" He nodded, and heedless of the people about them, took her hand in his. But she, more immediately conscious of the proprieties, gave his hand a little squeeze, and withdrew her own. She had on a new hat and a new dress, and she wanted him to admire them. "Do you like my new hat, Alf?" "Upon my word, I didn't notice it, Lizzie." "O!" was her comment, in a tone of disappointment. "I couldn't see anything but your face, Lizzie." "Ah!" was her comment, in a tone of gratification, with love-sparkles in her eyes. "It's very pretty," he said. "My face or my bonnet, Alf?" "I should like to hug you, Lizzie," was his crooked answer. "But you mustn't," she said, with ripples in her voice. "So many people looking! Give me twopence, Alf." "What for?" he asked, giving her the coppers. "For the conjurers--because I feel so happy." A juvenile member of the company had just tied himself into a knot, and having untied himself, Lizzie beckoned to him and gave him the money, the good example being immediately followed by others of the on-lookers. "You've brought them luck, Lizzie." "I'm glad of it." But the hat question was not yet settled. She directed his attention to it. "I made it myself last night, Alf. I want to know if it becomes me." "It's just the kind of hat that I should have bought for you," he said. "I made this dress, too. Do you like it? Feel what nice soft stuff it is." He squeezed her arm.