Miss Garland returned the greeting and, instead of passing on, stopped and, with a friendly smile, held out her hand. Mr. Sharp shook it convulsively.
"You are just the man I want to see," she exclaimed. "Aunt and I have been talking about you all the afternoon."
Mr. Sharp said "Really!"
"But I don't want uncle to see us," pursued Miss Garland, in the low tones of confidence. "Which way shall we go?"
Mr. Sharp's brain reeled. All ways were alike to him in such company. He walked beside her like a man in a dream.
"We want to give him a lesson," said the girl, presently. "A lesson that he will remember."
"Him?" said the young man.
"Uncle," explained the girl. "It's a shocking thing, a wicked thing, to try and upset a steady young man like you. Aunt is quite put out about it, and I feel the same as she does."
"But," gasped the astonished Mr. Sharp, "how did you?"
"Aunt heard him," said Miss Garland. "She was just going into the room when she caught a word or two, and she stayed outside and listened. You don't know what a lot she thinks of you."