“The--er--use of elegant and precise language by--er--young ladies cannot be too sedulously cultivated”-- But here the child laughed, and snuggling still closer, gurgled: “That's right! Give it to her when she comes down! That's the style!” and the colonel stopped, discomfited. Nevertheless, there was a certain wholesome glow in the contact of this nestling little figure. Presently he resumed tentativery: “I have--er--brought you a few dainties.” “Yes,” said Pansy, “I see; but they're from the wrong shop, you dear old silly! They're from Tomkins's, and we girls just abominate his things. You oughter have gone to Emmons's. Never mind. I'll show you when we go out. We're going out, aren't we?” she said suddenly, lifting her head anxiously. “You know it's allowed, and it's RIGHTS 'to parents and guardians'!” “Certainly, certainly,” said the colonel. He knew he would feel a little less constrained in the open air. “Then we'll go now,” said Pansy, jumping up. “I'll just run upstairs and put on my things. I'll say it's 'orders' from you. And I'll wear my new frock--it's longer.” (The colonel was slightly relieved at this; it had seemed to him, as a guardian, that there was perhaps an abnormal display of Pansy's black stockings.) “You wait; I won't be long.” She darted to the door, but reaching it, suddenly stopped, returned to the sofa, where the colonel still sat, imprinted a swift kiss on his mottled cheek, and fled, leaving him invested with a mingled flavor of freshly ironed muslin, wintergreen lozenges, and recent bread and butter. He sat still for some time, staring out of the window. It was very quiet in the room; a bumblebee blundered from the jasmine outside into the open window, and snored loudly at the panes. But the colonel heeded it not, and remained abstracted and silent until the door opened to Miss Tish and Pansy--in her best frock and sash, at which the colonel started and became erect again and courtly. “I am about to take my ward out,” he said deliberately, “to--er--taste the air in the Alameda, and--er--view the shops. We may--er--also--indulge in--er--slight suitable refreshment;--er--seed cake--or--bread and butter--and--a dish of tea.” Miss Tish, now thoroughly subdued, was delighted to grant Miss Stannard the half holiday permitted on such occasions. She begged the colonel to suit his own pleasure, and intrusted “the dear child” to her guardian “with the greatest confidence.” The colonel made a low bow, and Pansy, demurely slipping her hand into his, passed with him into the hall; there was a slight rustle of vanishing skirts, and Pansy pressed his hand significantly. When they were well outside, she said, in a lower voice:--