“Agatha,” he burst out.

“No, no. This is not the last time. Sha’n’t we keep that?” she asked, with a provokingly light-hearted smile.

“You promise to be here to-morrow?”

“Oh, yes.”

“I shall have something to say to you then,” Charlie announced with a significant air.

“Oh, you never lack conversation.”

“You’ll be here at five?”

“Precisely,” she answered with mock gravity; “and now I’m gone!”

Charlie took off his straw hat, stretched out his right hand, and took hers. For a moment she drew back, but he looked very handsome and gallant as he bowed his head down to her hand, and she checked the movement.

“Oh, well!” she murmured; she was protesting against any importance being attached to the incident.