"I trust that they bear no resemblance to my donkey," said I with
feeling.

"Ugh!" said Le Mire with a shudder. "Never shall I forget that
ride. Besides," she added, turning to Harry, "this morning I
would be in the way. Don't you know that your brother has a
thousand things to say to you? He wants to scold you; you must
remember that you are a very bad boy."

And she sent me a glance half defiant, half indifferent, which
plainly said: "If I fight you, I shall win; but I really care
very little about it one way or the other."

After breakfast she went to her room--to have her hair dressed,
she said--and I led Harry to a secluded corner of the magnificent
grounds surrounding the hotel. During the walk we were both
silent: Harry, I suppose, was wondering what I was going to say,
while I was trying to make up my own mind.

"I suppose," he began abruptly, "you are going to tell me I have
acted like a fool. Go ahead; the sooner it's over the better."

"Nothing of the sort," said I, glad that he had opened it.

He stopped short, demanding to know what I meant.

"Of course," I continued, "Le Mire is a most amazing prize. Not
exactly my style perhaps, but there are few men in the world who
wouldn't envy you. I congratulate you.