"Well, why can't you? When is he coming?"
"He said he would be here at half-past four, and that he"—here she grew prettily shamefaced and very red—"would meet me in the little alley behind the rhododendrons over there. You know there is a gateway in there from the road."
"We've got ten minutes," said Mr. Browne, after a brief consultation with his watch. "Let us go and sit in the alley and circumvent Aunt Hilda."
It was quite easy to skirt around the players and enter the pretty secluded walk that led to nowhere but the high road—a mere cul-de-sac that made it unpopular with most young people. But Agatha liked the high road, for that good white winding ribbon would bring her her Jack.
"Now let us talk about it," said he comfortably.
"There's nothing to talk about," said Agatha mournfully. "Aunt Hilda is determined I shall marry Dr. Darkham, and I am determined that I shan't. That is all."
"Far from it. There is the other side of the question to be considered also," said Mr. Browne, assuming a magisterial air.
"Aunt Hilda is determined that you shan't marry Dr. Dillwyn, and you are determined that you will. What price the winner? I back you."
"Well, I shall not give in," said she with a smile. She looked very sad, however. "I wish I were not under such obligations to her."
"What nonsense! As if she were not under obligations to you! I expect it must have been a real treat to her when you got under her roof."