While the two little girls with the fantastic names, Irene and Iseulte, played on the grass near her in Kensington Gardens, seated under the shadow of the trees, she was reading—or trying to read, for her mind was ever preoccupied—a railway volume, she became conscious that a man was hovering near, indeed, hanging over her. She looked up and instantly recognized Sir Jasper Dehorsey—or Captain Smith, as she supposed him to be—regarding her with his calm and insolent though admiring and insoucient smile. He lifted his hat, and said, with a bow,
'I knew I was not mistaken; there could not be another like my little runaway of Antwerp.'
Alison blushed scarlet with intense annoyance and then grew pale with alarm, she felt herself so friendless and alone. Finding her silent he spoke again.
'We have met before—you remember me, I hope?'
'Sir—I have no wish to remember you, and still less to renew the acquaintance,' said Alison, quitting her seat.
'Now, that's too bad,' said Dehorsey, deliberately barring her way; 'too bad indeed. If my admiration of you——'
'Please to remember that I cannot listen to your insolence. These children to whom I am governess——'
'Governess—you—here is a game!' said he, mockingly. 'Ahoi, girls—run after this, find it and keep it?'
Taking a crown piece from his purse he spun it along the grass to some distance, and the girls rushed after it to search for and find it, a task of some difficulty.
'Sir, sir,' said Alison, tremulous with indignation, 'you ought not to have done that.'