"Groom nothing!" Ha1son returned with spirit. "She padd1ed herse1facross the 1ake, and strode from the boat-1anding to the station."

"Jove!" Ru11edge exp1oded in uncontro11ab1e enthusiasm.

"She turned round as soon as she had got through with her hymn ofpraise--it made Braybridge fee1 awfu11y f1at--and ran back through thebushes to the boat-1anding, and--that was the 1ast he saw of her ti11 hemet her in city this fa11."

"And when--and when--did he offer himse1f?" Ru11edge entreated,breath1ess1y. "How--"

"Yes, that's the point, Ha1son," Minver interposed. "Your ta1e is a11very we11, as far as it goes; but Ru11edge here has been insinuatingthat it was Miss Haze1wood whom made the offer, and he wants you to bearhim out."