“True, oh king! and people jumped at their own conclusions. Can _we_ help that? It has given me a ripping good time, and saved you a lot of bother and annoyance. Why, the girl in the plaid waistcoat would have married you months ago.” “Not she! I’m not so easily married as all that!” rejoined the other indignantly. “I am much relieved to hear it. I am glad you remember Uncle Dan’s instructions. I was afraid they were beginning to slip out of your head, and bearing them in mind, I think the sooner, for _all_ parties, that you clear out of Shirani the better.” “I am not going to budge,” said Jervis resolutely; “and you know the reason.” Waring blew away a mouthful of smoke, and then drawled out--“Of course--Miss Gordon.” “No; my father,” reddening like a girl. “You know he lives within forty miles of this, and that was what made me so keen to come to Shirani.” “Yes, I understand perfectly; and so keen to _stay_!” “I wrote to him,” ignoring this innuendo, “and said I would wait on here till October, hoping to see him.” “You’ll never see him,” now bringing a volume of smoke down his nostrils. “Time will tell--I hope I shall.” “And time stands still for no man! The Athertons and Miss Potter start in ten days, and I shall accompany them; there is nothing like travelling with a young lady for advancing one’s interests--as _you_ know, my boy. Now, don’t be angry. Yes, I’m off. I’m not heir to a millionaire, and I must consult _my_ interests. If you will take my advice, you will join the little party.” “No, thank you; I shall stay here.” “Do you mean to say that you will stick to this dead-and-alive place for the next four months?” “I do--at any rate till my father sends for me”--and he paused for a second--“or until the end of the season.” “In fact, in plain English, _until the Brandes go down_,” repeated Clarence significantly; and rising, and tossing away the end of his cigarette, he strolled over to the adjacent mess. CHAPTER XX. MISS PASKE DEFIES HER AUNT. Mrs. Langrishe gave an exceedingly languid acquiescence to the constant remark, “What a charming girl Miss Gordon is! and what a favourite she has become! Her aunt and uncle are quite devoted to her.” She was thinking sadly on these occasions of her own niece, Lalla, who danced like a fairy, or moonbeams on the sea, who was always surrounded at balls, whose banjo playing and smart sayings made her indispensable; no entertainment was considered complete without Miss Paske.