"An army habit, I mean to do away with later. Thanks. I suppose breakfast is not ready?"
"Hardly yet," glancing about inquiringly. "My niece is usually out here at this hour, which accounts for my venturing forth. She is not here?"
"Not now, although there are evidences that she has been," indicating the gloves and pruning shears visible beside the walk. "We must have arrived too late."
"So it seems. You came with the same purpose, no doubt?"
"If you mean the hope of encountering Natalie, your guess is correct. She would not give me a word last night, and has even overturned my plans this morning. Does she play hide and seek with you also?"
"Does she! One never knows what she will do. But this last escapade is the strangest of all."
"You refer to our engagement?"
"Assuredly; I had no warning, no conception of such a thing."
"Do you mean, sir, that she had never consulted you? never even mentioned me to you before?"
"Exactly. You are aware of who I am, I presume? the position I hold relative to her property?"