As the waltz ceased, Rollo had secured without difficulty the companionship of Miss Fisher for a walk; and Miss Fisher never knew how peculiar a walk it was, nor imagined that her cavalier was following a very fixed and definite purpose of his own.  Nothing seemed less purposeful than the course they took; it was no course; from one path diverging into another, changing from one direction to another; a hunted hare would scarce make more doublings, or anything else, except the dog in chase of the hare.  Kitty only knew that she was very well amused; her companion never left that doubtful, nor allowed her much leisure to make inconvenient observations; and, in short, Kitty did not care where they went!—­and Rollo did care.  So it fell out, that quite suddenly, and as much to his companion’s surprise as anybody’s, quite easily and naturally they stepped out of one walk into another just as Wych Hazel and her attendant came to the same spot.

‘Your old proverbs are all stuff,’ Kitty was saying to her companion.  ’I do think she’s the prettiest thing I ever saw.  Only she don’t know her tools.  Just wait till I’ve had her in training a while!’

‘Miss Kennedy,’ said Rollo, ’how would you like to be in training?’ They had somehow joined company with Stuart and Wych Hazel, not by the former’s good will, but he could not manage to help it.

’I may as well reserve my views on that subject for somebody who wants to try,’ said the girl, with a laugh.  She had not heard Kitty Fisher.

‘On what point just now do you think you need it?’

’I am in an extremely contented state of mind “just now,” thank you, Mr. Rollo.’

‘Miss Fisher would not think that proves anything.’

‘Does Miss Kitty offer her services as trainer?’ asked Stuart.

‘Now just wait, both of you,’ said Kitty Fisher, ’and let Miss Kennedy get used to me a little.  She’s awfully shocked, to begin with; and you’re trying to make believe she’ll never get over it.’

A slight gesture of Miss Kennedy’s head, unseen by Miss Kitty, seemed to say that was extremely probable.

‘You should let her get accustomed to you by degrees,’ said Stuart.  ’Hover about in the middle distance, suppose, without getting out of the range of vision—­so that you may make your approaches to her heart through her eyes.  That is an excellent way.’

‘Is it?’ said Kitty.  ’You’ve tried all ways, I presume.  But I notice that just now you seem to prefer the ear as a medium.  Wouldn’t she be splendid in the “Thread of Destiny,” Stuart?’

‘I should think so, if I were at the end of the thread!’

‘You would not suppose it, Miss Kennedy,’ said Rollo; ’but the “Thread of Destiny” is a silk ribband.  The destiny is not therefore always silken.’

‘Much you know about it!’ said Kitty.  ’I just wish I could see you thoroughly wound up for once, with Bell Powder and two or three other people.’