children, and it is not possible. Why, it seems but yesterday that I stood plaguing him on the stone doorstep at Guy Park — calling him Walter Ninny and Walter Noodle to vex him. You remember, Euan, that his full name is Walter N. Butler, and that he never would tell us what the N. stands for, but we guessed it stood for Nellis, in honour of Nellis Fonda� . Lord! What a world o’ trouble for us all in these three years!”

“I had supposed you married long ago, Lana. The young Patroon was very ardent.”

“I? The sorry supposition! I marry — in the face of the sad and miserable examples all my friends afford me! Not I, Euan, unless — — ” She smiled at me with pretty malice. “ — — you enter the lists. Do you then enter?”