heart. Depend upon it, if she were really disposed to be more than a friend, she would be reserved and not stand up for me. It's the way of girls.'

It's not Pearl's way,' Palliser said. 'She's always been in a position that put shyness rather out of court. I don't mean that she'd make the first advances, not she: no girl would be slower to do so; but she's not exactly "so much alarmed that she is quite alarming," as Byron expresses it.'

'Oh nonsense!' I returned. 'She's sorry for me, and thinks my position an awkward one.'

Pity is akin to love,' Palliser remarked.

'She likes,' I said, 'that big, good-looking, conceited fellow, who always reminds me of the girl's brother in "Maud;" Dashwood I mean.'

Palliser appeared to see the force of my remarks, and, on reaching my door, we parted, and did not meet again till the day of the match. I played with the village club, and was never in so gloomy a temper as on this occasion. I had heard that Miss Fanshawe was leaving the neighbourhood for some timegoing to Canada. And there had been a farewell dancing-party at the manor-house on the previous evening, attended by all the Saunterers, to which I had not received an invitation. And, remembering the views I understood Miss Fanshawe to have expressed relative to the way in which the Saunterers had behaved to me, I was furious against the inconstancy of the sex, and indignant with myself for not being able to throw off my attachment to a girl so insincere, flighty, forgetful, and spoilt. When I saw her drive in her basket-phaeton on to the field, I held sulkily aloof, while the Saunterers, to a man, flocked eagerly round her. I did not go near enough to hear her musical voice, but I could tell from a distance that she was in high spirits, by her demeanour, and that of those who surrounded her. I tried, with indifferent success, to concentrate my mind on the match. I was madly

anxious that we should beat the Saunterers; but I felt that ours was a very composite eleven with a ́ tail,' and that theirs was a strong one, comprising several bats dreaded upon Fenner's and the Magdalen ground, and well provided with swift bowlers and quick fieldsmen.

The Saunterers went in first and played before the eyes of Pearl gazing from her phaton. The most extraordinary and indescribable innings I ever saw. At the time I was utterly puzzled by it, and I should think that many of the spectators, such at least as understood the game, will to their dying day, in the seasons of memory, try to fathom the mystery of that innings. It was a short and a poor innings, far inferior to what might have been reasonably expected from such a team. With the exception of Palliser, who went in hindmost man of the eleven, played well, and brought out his bat for a very fair score, the Saunterers batted, one and all, with the most absurd irresolution I ever saw in a cricket-field; they played, that is, not as if they wanted to make runs, nor as if they wanted to get

out, but as if they could not make up their minds which of these ends to compass.

And just as they batted, so they bowled and fielded when the village club took its turn at the wickets. The bowlers did not bowl individually badly, but their balls were neither swift nor straight, and I knew that two of them at least could be both, at need. The fieldsmen did not egregiously miss balls hit to them in the air or on the ground, the contemptuous exclamation, 'butterfingers,' was not heard round the field; but they fielded languidly and loosely, and let many more runs be got than need be got. I thought, at first, that it was a concerted plan, and that they were giving themselves airs. They meant, perhaps, these contemptibly-conceited Saunterers, to make an ostentation of not putting forth their strength against us. But I very soon, narrowly watching them, perceived that however little each member of the eleven exerted himself, he was quite as much surprised as I was at the

apathy of his comrades. In fact, before the Saunterers had been out in the field half an hour every one of their faces wore a more or less bewildered and ridiculous expression. Each languid cricketer was shocked that the rest between them did not make up for his own indolence. Still our eleven was so bad that, even with these advantages, we had lost all our wickets but one, and were then twenty runs behind. I had been chosen to go in 'first wicket down,' the post of honour, and I was well set' when the last man joined me. He, I knew, was an utter incapable. But by judiciously playing for 'singles' at the end of each over, I managed to give him a sinecure as far as batting went, and to receive every ball for many successive overs on my own bat, this being our only chance. The score rapidly rose. We were within seven of a 'tie,' when I got well hold of an 'on' ball and lifted it over the tents and out of the field. Down went the figure 6 on my line in the scoring-book.

The

'One to tie two to win' was buzzed round the ring of spectators. I made the single off the next ball, but it was not the last of the over. next was, and my vis-à-vis received it amidst breathless suspense. It was not straight, and was, considering the bowling power of the man who delivered it, slow. But my partner was a person to whom the easy in cricket was the difficult, and instead of availing himself of his opponent's generosity, he mildly scooped the ball up into the air. It came down into point's hands, so gently that a child in a pinafore might have caught it. 'Point' was Sir Frederick Dashwood, my enemy. I noticed him glance with a curious expression towards Pearl's phaeton, as the ball came down delicately; and then he did what hardly seemed feasible-let it slip through his hands. From the whole field there arose hereat a roar of derision, at which the baronet went very red in the face. He was not virulently abused by the other Saunterers, but far worse than this was the loudly-expressed contempt of the spectators, which almost be

came annoying as he walked back to the tent, the match being now over in our favour, for we ran the hit on speculation.

I was walking off the ground in a melancholy mood enough, forgetful already of the plaudits which I received for the triumph I had won for the village club over 'those confounded, conceited Saunterers.' Any little excitement the match might have afforded me had passed away, and a reaction had succeeded, when, as I opened the gate at the entrance of the field, I suddenly felt a sharp stinging pain under my left whisker. I instantly knew that it was inflicted by Palliser's pea-shooter, and not being in a good temper I turned round in a state of high irritation. There was Palliser close behind me.

'When are you going to leave off that absurd, childish trick?'

'My dear fellow,' Palliser returned, 'you have received the last shot which I shall ever fire from this or any similar tube. See, I throw it away,' and he jerked his favourite instrument into a dry ditch over an intervening hedge. 'Emma objects to it, takes the same view of it as you do, that it's, perhaps, rather a puerile source of amusement.'

I should think it was,' I said, 'and I wish you would have chosen some one else for your farewell victim-Sir Frederick Dashwood, for instance. Why on earth did he miss that catch?'

'He is as savage in the tent just now as the examiner was when my pellet hit him in the schools,' Palliser returned. Some roughs got round the tent and told him he did it because he had a bet on the match. But I'll tell you the real reason, in fact, it was with that object that I drew your attention just now.'

'Which you might have done in some other way,' I said. 'But it seems to me that, altogether, there's some mystery about this match. The Saunterers hesitated about every ball they played, or bowled, or stopped.'

'Men have a natural reluctance to play under their proper mark at cricket. Besides, it's difficult, I

should say,' Palliser replied. 'But you observed correctly. I'll tell you why they did it. It was done at Pearl Fanshawe's request.'

'At Miss Fanshawe's request?' 'Yes. She's not in your good books, now, I suppose. After all her professions of friendship, not to ask you up to her farewell party was a most unkind cut, wasn't it?'

'I told you I was right about Miss Fanshawe,' I said, coldly. 'She never cared for me.'

That doesn't prove that you were right,' he returned. However, at her party, Pearl told every one of these men, separately, mind you, that she wished the village club to win the match. So (I have it all from Emma, you know), each of them acted on her suggestion, without knowing that the rest had received the same hint.'

'Well,' I said, 'there's no accounting for woman's freaks. Sir Frederick's was the crowning piece of self-sacrifice, and I don't doubt that he will be rewarded.'

'I'll tell you another thing,' Palliser said. 'Pearl had her work cut out last night. How many men do you suppose offered to her, knowing she was going away? Why, every man, except myself, that played with the Saunterers to-day, and some more besides.'

'She must have given them every opportunity,' I said; unless they proposed en masse.'

She did,' Palliser replied. As you might have gathered from what I said just now, their propositions were made between the dances in the usual way, tête-à-tête.'

'And I suppose she took the baronet,' I said, as coolly as I could.

'I am glad we have reached your house,' Palliser answered; 'you look so white. You know what to prescribe for yourself, I suppose? but I should suggest a stimulanta cordial was the old-fashioned term.'

Confound you!' I said, quickly. Has she taken him? Though it's nothing to me.'

'If you will come up to the manor-house this evening, you will see,' Palliser replied. I will call

for you at seven precisely. And now go in, and take a nip of brandy.'

As before, Palliser called for me, and I went up with him to the manor-house. I could trust him, and I knew he would not place me in any ignominious or awkward position. But I was somewhat disconcerted when, after sitting with the aunt, Miss Thorpe, and Palliser for a short time in the drawingroom, the door opened, and the new page-who was by this time taking more kindly to his function-announced, with much emphasis, 'Sir Frederick Dashwood.'

The baronet entered. His bearing was confident; as, however, I suppose, that of baronets usually is; his evening costume was faultless, of course, but a moss-rose which he wore in his buttonhole gave him a festal air, and his gold sleeve-links, of which he afforded us a pretty good glimpse, were anchors, the emblems of hope. I knew he had been the main agent in blackballing me, and hardly bowed to him therefore. I fancied he looked rather surprised at seeing me, which I, then, put down to an idea of his that I was not a fit visitor at the manor-house. However, he sat down, and began to talk with his usual ease. Presently the new page announced another visitor, one of the Saunterers. He, too, entered in an assured manner, and had a flower in his buttonhole. But, evidently, both he and the baronet were taken aback at seeing each other, and their greetings were awkwardish.

There will be rare fun presently,' Palliser whispered, leaning over to me.

I asked him, in the same undertone where Miss Fanshawe was.

'You'll know all about it in a jiffey,' was his rejoinder; and while he was speaking the door was again opened and a third Saunterer entered, smiling, dress-suited, rosebuttonholed. But he stopped short, and his countenance assumed a sudden change of expression when he saw the other members of his club. They looked equally uncomfortable, and I began to think the

Saunterers a queer set, and that I was well out of them. Half an hour more, and all the Saunterers and a few non-cricketing young gentlemen of the neighbourhood were sitting in the drawing-room, looking anything but pleased with each other's company. Conversation was almost at a stand-still. I could not but see that there was some mystery-that some strange scene was about to be enacted, and I waited eagerly. Still Miss Fanshawe did not appear.

At last Sir Frederick Dashwood rose, went to the ottoman on which Miss Thorpe was sitting, and, leaning over the back of it, whispered to her. Miss Thorpe's reply, however, was made in loud tones:

'If, Sir Frederick, you will give my aunt your arm, we shall find supper in the dining-room, and my cousin will be there as soon as she possibly can.'

With as much cordiality as he could achieve, the baronet did as she asked him, and we all followed into the dining-room, where supper was laid.

I trust all you fellows haven't dined too late to be peckish,' Palliser said.

Meanwhile the baronet, with a very ill grace, seeing nothing else for it, sat down and began the carving of a cold turkey, and the rest followed his lead. There was plenty of wine, and it was good. The Saunterers therefore made the best of things, and in twenty minutes' time were beginning to thaw from their normal state, that evening of frost, when suddenly there was a dead silence. Having entered so quietly that, I think, scarcely any one but myself perceived the door open, Pearl Fanshawe stood before us.

The ideas of the poets, I consider, verge occasionally on the absurd. Í cannot sympathise with their ecstacies respecting female beauty. The generality of girls may be more or less comely and pleasant to look at, but I see no reasonableness in the adoration which their personal appearance excites. Still at that moment, perhaps, Pearl would have justified such raptures as are indulged in by a Tom Moore or an

Apuleius. With her slender figure drawn up to its full height, and her little head borne bravely, she stood before us, who had all risen at her entrance. As she looked at us her fair cheek flushed scarlet, but her eyes did not decline.

'Gentlemen,' she said, with even a slight smile on her lips, 'I dare say you are very much surprised at seeing each other, inasmuch as it was in private that I asked you to come here, each of you, for a final answer to-night. However,'-here she suddenly paused in great confusion, after hitherto speaking steadily; she had caught sight of me, and I flushed as much as she did. She was silent for a few minutes, and then, looking towards Palliser, she said

'Mr. Palliser, this is your fault; you have brought to my house an uninvited guest-

'I fancied as much,' Sir Frederick Dashwood put in, giving me a very contumelious look; indeed I felt what a fool I had been: how I had compromised myself by trusting Palliser-in fact, I could say nothing to excuse myself. Still, I thought that, after the way in which I had been received before upon Palliser's introduction, more allowance might have been made. I was at the door, however, quickly. But Palliser was quicker, and, the key being in, he turned it, and put it in his pocket. So I was compelled to stay.

'Well, gentlemen,' Pearl resumed -I was behind her now, and she seemed to have forgotten me-'I thank you very much for your proposals; but I have to ask you whether you will renew them when you hear what I have to tell you? In my uncle's will, who left me all this property of mine, there is a clause which states that in the event of my marriage very farthing and farthing's worth of that property is to be divided between six charitable institutions.' And she paused.

Sir Frederick Dashwood came a step forward instantly, as red as the rose in his buttonhole.

'I must say,' he blurted out,' that you have used me very rudely. I am not speaking to one of my own sex, and I am moderate in my ex