"Yes, I know; Cornelius has told me all, but I don't care about Mrs.
Gray, you are to come with me this very minute."
"But Mrs. Gray—"
"Nonsense! Mrs. Gray won't break her heart about you; and you don't look well at all."
"That is she, coming up to us, Kate."
And so it was. Mrs. Gray had got impatient, or perhaps alarmed, and fancied that Claude had carried me off. She was thrown into another flurry on seeing Miss O'Reilly; but Cornelius undertook to bring her round, and succeeded so well that ere long she sat down by Kate, with whom she chatted pleasantly, whilst I and Cornelius walked about. It seemed to me that but a few minutes had thus passed, when came the parting moment, and Mrs. Gray summoned me with a "My dear, is it not time to go?" The following day was Sunday, and on that day we never walked in the Gardens. With many kisses, caresses, and many a pang of secret regret, and many a look behind, I parted from my two friends. They were scarcely out of sight when Mrs. Gray exclaimed—
"There are very strange things in life—very. Now I should no more have expected to meet in Kensington Gardens an old friend—than—than—really —than anything!"
"An old friend, Mrs. Gray!"
"Why, of course; the lady to whom I spoke."
"Miss O'Reilly!" I exclaimed; then immediately felt dismayed at my own imprudence.
But Mrs. Gray was getting bold, and replied, very calmly—