"Undoubtedly," said I, and felt my ribs, in meditative wise. "Ah, but I thought I missed something! We participate in a historic moment. This is in Eden immediately after the creation of--Well, but of course you are acquainted with that famous bull about Eve's being the fairest of her daughters?" "It is _quite_ time," said she, judicially, "for me to go back to the hotel, before--since we are speaking of animals,--your presence here is noticed by one of the squirrels." "It is not good," I pleaded, "for man to be alone." "I have heard," said she, "that--almost any one can cite scripture to his purpose." I thrust out a foot for inspection. "No suggestion of a hoof," said I; "and not the slightest odour of brimstone, as you will kindly note; and my inoffensive name is Robert Townsend." "Of course," she submitted, "I could never think of making your acquaintance in this irregular fashion; and, therefore, of course, I could not think of telling you that my name is Marian Winwood." "Of course not," I agreed; "it would be highly improper." "--And it is more than time for me to go to supper," she concluded again, with a lacuna, as it seemed to me, in the deduction. "Look here!" I remonstrated; "it isn't anywhere near six yet." I exhibited my watch to support this statement. "Oh!" she observed, with wide, indignant eyes. "I--I mean--" I stammered. She rose to her feet. "--I will explain how I happened to be carrying two watches--" "I do not care to listen to any explanations. Why should I?" "--upon," I firmly said, "the third piazza of the hotel. And this very evening." "You will not." And this was said even more firmly. "And I hope you will have the kindness to keep away from these woods; for I shall probably always walk here in the afternoon." Then, with an indignant toss of the head, the Vision disappeared. 3 I whistled. Subsequently I galloped back to the hotel. "See here!" said I, to the desk-clerk; "how long does this place keep open?" "Season closes latter part of September, sir." I told him I would need my rooms till then. 17. _He Provides Copy_ So it was Uncle George Bulmer who presently left the Green Chalybeate, to pursue Mrs. Chaytor with his lawless arts. I stayed out the season. Now I cannot conscientiously recommend the Green Chalybeate against your next vacation. Once very long ago, it was frequented equally for the sake of gaiety and of health. In the summer that was Marian's the resort was a beautiful and tumble-down place where invalids congregated for the sake of the nauseous waters,--which infallibly demolish a solid column of strange maladies I never read quite through, although it bordered every page of the writing-paper you got there from the desk-clerk,--and a scanty leaven of persons who came thither, apparently, in order to spend a week or two in lamenting "how very dull the season is this year, and how abominable the fare is."