Up the white walls of the houses clambered a deal of Virginia creeper, brought on by the rain, and now almost scarlet in the strong sunlight.

Presently at some gates there was a mark to pay, or it may have been two; immediate admittance to an avenue of fascinating shops, with an inner avenue of trees, little tables under them, and the crash of the band growing louder at every yard.

Eventual access to a fine, broad terrace, a fine, long facade, a bandstand, and people listening and walking up and down, people listening and drinking beer or coffee at more little tables, people listening and reading on rows of chairs, people standing to listen with all their ears; but not for a long time the person I sought.
* * * * * Not for a very long time, but yet, at last, and all alone, among the readers on the chairs, deep in a Tauchnitz volume even here as in the Alps; more daintily yet not less simply dressed, in pink muslin and a big black hat; and blessed here as there with such blooming health, such inimitable freshness, such a general air of well-being and of deep content, as almost to disgust me after my whole week's search and my own hourly qualms.
So I found Mrs.Lascelles in the end, and so I saw her until she looked up and saw me; then the picture changed; but I am not going to describe the change.
"Well, really!" she cried out.
"It has taken me all the week to find you," said I, as I replaced my hat.
Her eyes flashed again.
"Has it, indeed! And now you have found me, aren't you satisfied?
Pray have a good look, Captain Clephane.

You won't find anybody else!" Her meaning dawned on me at last.
"I didn't expect to, Mrs.Lascelles." "Am I to believe that ?" "You must do as you please.

It is the truth.