“No, but I will,” said Mrs. Riddel, with a smile.  “I think I’ve got a plan.”

She blushed charmingly, and then, in modest alarm at her boldness, dropped her voice almost to a whisper.  The Major gazed at her in speechless admiration and threw back his head in ecstasy.  “Come round to-morrow afternoon,” said Mrs. Riddel, pausing at the end of the lane.  “Mr. Halibut shall be there, too, and it shall be done under his very eyes.”

Until that time came the Major sat at home carefully rehearsing his part, and it was with an air of complacent virtue that he met the somewhat astonished gaze of the persistent Halibut next day.  It was a bright afternoon, but they sat indoors, and Mrs. Riddel, after an animated description of a game at cribbage with Miss Philpotts the night before, got the cards out and challenged Halibut to a game.

They played two, both of which the diplomatic Halibut lost; then Mrs. Riddel, dismissing him as incompetent, sat drumming on the table with her fingers, and at length challenged the Major.  She lost the first game easily, and began the second badly.  Finally, after hastily glancing at a new hand, she flung the cards petulantly on the table, face downward.

“Would you like my hand, Major Brill?” she demanded, with a blush.

“Better than anything in the world,” cried the Major, eagerly.

Halibut started, and Miss Philpotts nearly had an accident with her crochet hook.  The only person who kept cool was Mrs. Riddel, and it was quite clear to the beholders that she had realized neither the ambiguity of her question nor the meaning of her opponent’s reply.

“Well, you may have it,” she said, brightly.

Before Miss Philpotts could lay down her work, before Mr. Halibut could interpose, the Major took possession of Mrs. Riddel’s small white hand and raised it gallantly to his lips.  Mrs. Riddel, with a faint scream which was a perfect revelation to the companion, snatched her hand away.  “I meant my hand of cards,” she said, breathlessly.

“Really, Brill, really,” said Halibut, stepping forward fussily.

“Oh!” said the Major, blankly; “cards!”

“That’s what I meant, of course,” said Mrs. Riddel, recovering herself with a laugh.  “I had no idea still—­if you prefer——­” The Major took her hand again, and Miss Philpotts set Mr. Halibut an example—­which he did not follow—­by gazing meditatively out of the window.  Finally she gathered up her work and quitted the room.  Mrs. Riddel smiled over at Mr. Halibut and nodded toward the Major.

[Illustrations:  “Don’t you think major Brill is somewhat hasty in his conclusions?” She inquired softly.]

“Don’t you think Major Brill is somewhat hasty in his conclusions?” she inquired, softly.

“I’ll tell Major Brill what I think of him when I get him alone,” said the injured gentleman, sourly.