'No,' I said, 'listen. I take more interest in you than you are, perhaps, aware of, and I have thought of a little plan for bringing you together again. What if I find an opportunity to see the lady she belongs to--we have not met lately, as you know, and I do not pretend that I desire a renewal of our intimacy----' 'You like the one on the grey best; I saw that long ago,' he said; and I left him in his error. 'In any case, for your sake, I will sacrifice myself,' I said magnanimously. 'I will begin to-morrow. Come, you will not let your lives be wrecked by a foolish lovers' quarrel?' He made a little half-hearted opposition, but finally, as I knew he would, consented. I had gained my point: I was free from Miss Gittens at last! That evening I met Diana in the hall of a house in Eaton Square. She was going downstairs as I was making my way to the ball-room, and greeted me with a rather cool little nod. 'You have quite deserted me lately,' she said, smiling, but I could read the reproach in her eyes, 'you never ride with us now.' My throat was swelling with passionate eloquence--and I could not get any of it out. 'No, I never do,' was all my stupid tongue could find to say. 'You have discovered a more congenial companion,' said cruel Diana. 'Miss Chetwynd,' I said eagerly, 'you don't know how I have been wishing--! Will you let me ride with you to-morrow, as--as you used to do?' 'You are quite sure you won't be afraid of my naughty Wild Rose?' she said. 'I have given her such a scolding, that I think she is thoroughly ashamed of herself.' 'You thought it was _that_ that kept me!' I cried. 'Oh, if I could tell you!' She smiled: she was my dear, friendly Diana again. 'You shall tell me all about it to-morrow,' she said. 'You will not have another opportunity, because we are going to Aix on Friday. And now, good-night. I am stopping the way, and the linkman is getting quite excited over it.' She passed on, and the carriage rolled away with her, and I was too happy to mind very much--had she not forgiven me? Should we not meet to-morrow? I should have two whole hours to declare myself in, and this time I would dally with Fortune no longer. How excited I was the following day: how fearful, when the morning broke grey and lowering: how grateful, when the benignant sun shone out later, and promised a brilliant afternoon: how carefully I dressed, and what a price I paid for the flower for my buttonhole! So we cantered on to the Row, as goodly a couple (if I may be pardoned this retrospective vanity) as any there; and by and by, I saw, with the quick eye of a lover, Diana's willowy form in the distance. She was not alone, but I knew that the Colonel would soon have to yield his place to me.