doubt it was Mary. She wore the most charming blue cloak (it was
a chilly morning) which completely enveloped her. I determined
not to shilly-shally. She loved me--I loved her. I ran forward,
plumped down on my knees behind her, took her head between my
hands dodged round, and kissed her cheek.

"`At last, my darling!' I cried in passionate tones.

"By Jupiter, it was the other girl, though!

"I sprang back in horror. The girl looked at me for a moment.
Then she blushed; then she frowned; then--why, then she began to
laugh consumedly. I was amazed.

"`"At last," you call it,' she gasped. `I call it "at first"';
and she laughed merrily and melodiously. She certainly had a
nice laugh, that girl.

"Now, concerning what follows, I have, since then, entertained
some doubts whether I behaved in all respects discreetly. You
will allow that the position was a difficult one, but it is, I
admit, very possible that my wisest course would have been to
make an apology and turn tail as quickly as I could. Well, I
didn't. I thought that I owed the lady a full explanation.
Besides, I wanted a full explanation myself. Finally (oh,
yes, I see you fellows grinning and winking), Mary was not there,
and this young lady rather interested me. I decided that I would
have five minutes' talk with her; then I would run back and find
Mary.