"Why should I not wait until your ship has sailed, before I tell her--then, if she babbles, it will not affect you?" "No," said Brandon; "since you have told it to Miss Marbury you must tell it to the other. I supposed you would test Miss Stirling first--see what your chances were--work up to it, gradually. Then, if all seemed propitious, confess just before we sailed. If she accepted you, all's well; if she refused you, we should be gone ere she could babble. I never dreamed that you would confide in _Miss Marbury_.--It is a beautiful scene, Parkington, a beautiful scene!" he exclaimed, suddenly, as a step sounded behind them. "Ah, Captain Herford!" "I am looking for Miss Stirling," the Captain explained. "The Governor wants her." "I have not seen her," Brandon replied. "Nor I, since supper," said Parkington. Half an hour later, when Miss Stirling came downstairs from the Governor's apartments, it was to find Sir Edward Parkington sitting on the lowest step. He arose and bowed. "I have been waiting," he said. "For what?" she asked. "For you." "You give yourself unnecessary trouble, sir." "I give myself a pleasure." She stepped by him, and proceeded on her way. He followed, through the drawing-room, and the room beyond, and out to the rear piazza. Here, he sprang forward, and offered her his arm. "I thank you," she scorned; "I do not need your assistance." At the second step, the high heel of her slipper caught, she stumbled, and would have fallen, had not Parkington interposed. He held her a moment, then released her. "I thank you!" she said stiffly, and went slowly down. "May I go along?" he asked, all the while, keeping step with her. She did not answer. "Miss Stirling, I addressed you," he said. Still no answer. "Thank you!" he replied. "You are very kind." She stopped and looked him over, disdainfully. "You have misinterpreted, sir," she said. "I have no intention to be kind--silence, in, this instance, does not give consent." "What have I done?" he asked. She shrugged her shoulders. "I went to the rose-walk--I waited--you did not come." "When?" she inquired. "At the time appointed--before it, indeed." "And I was not there?" "I could not find you." "You waited for me?" "At least half an hour." "And I did not come?" "Alas! no." She laughed derisively. "Why do you tell me such nonsense?" "Nonsense!" he said. "Nonsense!" "_Lies_ would be the more fitting term." "I do not understand." "No--there is your trouble; you do not know if I kept the rendezvous, so you play it as if _you_ did!" "As if I did!" he repeated. She laughed again. "I suppose you will be averring that you do not understand me." He bowed. "Pray explain," he said. "It is for you to explain. I kept the rendezvous; you _did not_." He tried to look his surprise. "You kept the rendezvous?"