"Oh, if you have already engaged some one, I will not trouble you!" stammered Jane, edging toward the door. "Not so fast--not so fast, madmoiselle; it iss true I haf already engage; but-- Ah, zis iss bettaire! More _chic--oui_. Your name, _s'il vous plait_?" "Jane Evelyn Aubrey-Blythe," murmured the girl. "An' you wis' to go to ze ozzer side--to America--_oui_?" "I wish to leave London; yes." "To-morrow evenin', zen, I go by ze train. Zen I sail on ze so gra-a-nd ship. You go wiz me--eh?" Jane stared at the woman with some astonishment. "What would be my--my duties?" she asked. "Your duties? Why, to go wiz me--my _compagnon de voyage_--_comprenez_? Nossing else, I assure you; I wait on myself. But I am--what you call it--lone-some--see? An' I require a nize, young lady to go wiz me." Mrs. Markle smiled affably, revealing a double row of glistening white teeth. She looked very kind and good-natured, and Jane drew a quick breath. "I will go," she said decidedly. The final arrangements were quickly concluded, and Jane presently found herself walking down the street, her cheeks flushed, her brown eyes blazing with excitement. "I am going to America to-morrow--to-morrow!" she told herself. "I shall travel! I shall see the world! I shall never--never come back!" The girl was so absorbed in her thoughts, which had for the moment flown quite across seas to the America of her imaginings, that she failed to see the tall, square-shouldered person who had turned the corner and was approaching her at a leisurely pace. She became aware of his presence when he spoke, and flushed an indignant scarlet as Lady Agatha's insinuating words recurred to her mind. "Yes," she returned vague answer to his greetings, "it is very pleasant to-day." "But you," said Mr. Towle, smiling down at the little figure, "seem to be in great haste about something. You are quite out of breath. Suppose we go into this little park and sit down quietly and rest a bit. Your face is uncomfortably flushed." "I can't help my color," murmured Jane confusedly; "it isn't because I was walking fast, but only----" "Is it because you are vexed at seeing me?" Mr. Towle wanted to know. "We agreed to be friends last night, remember." "I know it," said Jane, glancing up at him quickly. He looked much younger in his hat, she reflected, and he really had very nice eyes. "But I am going out of town directly," she made haste to add, "so we shall not see each other again--at least not for a long time." "You are going away?" said Mr. Towle blankly. "Where--if I may ask without seeming impertinent?" "I don't know exactly," replied Jane, with a provoking smile. "I am going to travel." Then she bit her tongue till it hurt. "Really, now you will see why I must hurry home at once. And--and, please don't mention what I have said to--to Aunt Agatha or Uncle Robert."