My Lady Caprice
Mr. Selwyn shifted his gaze to the toe of his riding boot, and for a space there was silence, so much so, indeed, that an inquisitive rabbit crept up and sat down to watch us with much interest, until - evidently remembering some pressing engagement - he disappeared with a flash of his white tail. "Talking of rabbits," said I, "they are quite a pest in Australia, I believe, and are exterminated by the thousand; I have often wondered if a syndicate could not be formed to acquire the skins - this idea, so far as I know, is original, but you are quite welcome to it if - " Mr. Selwyn rose abruptly to his feet. "I once in my boyhood possessed a rabbit - of the lop-eared variety," I continued, "which overate itself and died. I remember I attempted to skin it with dire results - " "Sir." said Mr. Selwyn. "I beg to inform you that I am not interested in rabbits, lop-eared or otherwise, nor do I propose to become so; furthermore - " But at this moment of my triumph, even as he turned to depart, something small and white fluttered down from the branches above, and the next moment Selwyn had stooped and picked up a lace handkerchief. Then, while he stared at it and I at him, there came a ripple of laughter and Lisbeth peered down at us through the leaves. "My handkerchief-thank you," she said, as Selwyn stood somewhat taken aback by her sudden appearance. "The trees hereabouts certainly bear very remarkable, not to say delightful fruit," he said. "And as you will remember, I was always particularly fond of apple trees," I interpolated. "Mr. Selwyn," smiled Lisbeth, "let me introduce you to Mr. Brent." "Sir," said I, "I am delighted to make your acquaintance; have heard Her Grace of Chelsea speak of you - her friends are mine, I trust?" Mr. Selwyn's bow was rather more than distant. "I have already had the pleasure of meeting this - this very original gentleman before, and under rather peculiar circumstances, Miss Elizabeth," he said, and forthwith plunged into an account of the whole 26