She s.n.a.t.c.hed the boy's handkerchief out of his breast-pocket, and had a comfortable wipe.

"You used to kiss my eyes dry once, when father had been rowing me, Syd."

"Yes, and so I will now if you'll go away, darling."

"But I'm afraid, Syd. What with the letters, and the races and the people, and the book he's making on Jim Crow he's in such a temper that I thought he'd beat me."

"What!" cried Syd, furiously, "strike my wife?"

"He didn't, Syd dear; but I thought he would."

"An old wretch! I'd kill him!"

"No, you wouldn't, Syd dear," said the girl, kittening up to him and rubbing her cheek up against his; "but it's so nice of you to say so, and it makes me feel that you do love your little wifey ever so much."

"Of course I do, soft, beautiful little owlet."

"Then had I better stay?"

"What! Here?"

"Yes; I'm sure Lady Lisle'll like me when she sees me. I'll stop, and we'll go down on our knees together, like they do at the Orphoean, and say: 'Forgive us, mother--I mean, aunt dear--and it'll be all right.'

'Bless you, my children.' You know, Syd."

"Look here, don't put me in a pa.s.sion again, or I shall be saying nastier things than ever."

"But why, dear? What for? I am your little wife, you know."

"Oh, yes, I know, t.i.tty, but it'll make such a horrid upset. Here, I'm expecting uncle down every moment."

"Well, then, let's both go down on our knees to him."

"But he's just off to the races."

"Well, what of that? It wouldn't take long, and it would be like rehearsing our parts ready to appear before your aunt."

"No, no, no. Now, look here, I've got it. Wife must obey her husband.

You swore you would."

"Yes, dear, I did, but--"

"But be blowed! You've got to do it, t.i.t. Now, then, you hop on your bike."

"But, Syd, there you go again."

"Hold your tongue, or how am I to teach you your part?"

"Very well," said the girl, stifling a sob.

"You told me just now that your father's making up a book on Jim Crow."

The girl used the handkerchief, stuffed it back in her boy-husband's pocket, and nodded rather sulkily.

"What's he doing that for?"

"Because the other--La Sylphide's scratched."

"That she isn't. She's going to run."

"No. Josh Rowle's down with D.T."

"That don't matter. She's going to run and win. You've got to go back and dress for the race. You can't go like that. There'd be too much chaff on the course, and I'm not going to have my wife show up like this on the stands."

"No, dear. I've got a new frock--lovely."

"Well, look sharp and run back, and I'll come over in the dogcart with uncle, and come straight to your dad and give him a tip that will put him in a good temper."

"You will, Syd?" cried the girl, joyfully. "And confess all?"

"Every jolly bit. Quick! Kiss! Cut."

La Sylphide, of the Orphoean, Dudley Square, London, was quick as lightning. She kissed like a wife who loved her juvenile lord, and she "cut". In other words, devoid of slang, she vaulted out of the window, stagily, as she had been taught by a ballet-master, sprang on to her bicycle, and went off like the wind; but rather too late, for the door opened, and Sir Hilton hurried in, closely followed by Mark Willows, bearing a large brown leather Gladstone bag.

CHAPTER NINE.

SYD PLAYS TRUMPS--AND WINS.

As Sir Hilton entered, Syd started from the window, whistling loudly to drown the click, click, click, clack of the swing gate, shuffled his creel round to his back, and seized the fly-rod, wincing though, and bracing himself up as he saw his uncle staring after the flying figure.

"Here, you, sir," he cried; "what chap's that?"

"Schoolfellow of mine, uncle."

"You fibbing young dog, how dare you tell me that lie! Why, it's a girl, and I've seen her before somewhere."

"A girl, uncle, in knickerbockers?"

"Yes, sir, a girl in knickerbockers. None of your sham innocency with me. Here, I know; it's La Sylphide."

"La what, uncle?"

"Mary Ann--old Simpkins's daughter. That Tilborough barmaid girl.

Here, speak up. What does this mean? Never mind; I can't stop to talk to you now, but--go and slip that bag into the dogcart, Mark, and see that it's ready."

"All ready, Sir Hilton. I told Jim to be sharp, and I heard the wheels."

"That's right. But you saw, Mark. Wasn't that Miss Simpkins?"