“Forget it. Many things have happened since then. Will you not come?” “Of course, I will come.” “Then give me your arm.” And so it happened that as Lord Francis Onslow and Mme. Lucille de Vigny stood at the door of the Prospect Hotel after their walk, they perceived Lady Francis and a gentleman whom neither of them had seen before coming toward them arm-in-arm, and engaged in the most intimate conversation. CHAPTER V. BY MAY CROMMELIN. Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee, When thou art old, there’s grief enough for thee. The wanton smiled, father wept, Mother cried, baby leapt, More he crowed, more we cried, Nature could not sorrow hide. GREENE (1560-92). “I’ve wired for him!” Fenella imparted in a startling burst of confidence. “Ronny and I got up early and ran down to the telegraph office.” “My _goodness_!” Jacynth stared in resentful dismay at her sparkling eyes. “Well! you have made a nice complication, now.” The girl laid a beseeching hand on his arm. “Don’t look so furious; and do--do stand by me in everything as you promised. Remember, you are my only friend here--except Ronny.” “I have promised,” he said solemnly. “But you might consult me as a friend. And why do anything so rash--mad?” “Because all my life I have taken my own way. Because if he comes here to vex me, when we were all quite happy”--she set her small white teeth--“and flaunts _that creature_ before my very face, I will show him the red rag he hates worst! Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.” “Not always. Take care.” “Besides, I want to convince you--everyone--that on my side there is nothing to blame, nothing--while, Frank--oh, there”--with a pathetic little break in her voice that makes Clitheroe wretched--“after having forgotten this miserable business very nearly--I hardly slept last night--thinking.” “You are fond of him still, then?” said Jacynth, very low. “No! no! I hate him now,” she exclaimed passionately, apostrophizing the rocks and trees around. “I should like to divorce him, and--and--see that poisonous serpent crushed alive.” “Come, don’t say such terrible things. And divorce is no such easy matter.” Jacynth’s heart beat hard as he soothed the headstrong girl. If she were indeed free! Down, down, wild hope! Was he not her true friend and faithful counselor? “So this accounts for your silence as we drove here. You meant to spring this surprise on me.” Fenella nodded, mischief simply brimming over in her suddenly transformed little face. “If I get into a scrape, you’ve got to get me out. It’s a duel, you see, between four of us, with you and Lord Castleton for seconds, and I come of a fighting family,” her feet breaking under her into a few steps of war dance. “Oh, _look there_!”