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Show 48 PRINCESS MARY'S GIF" BOOK A MODEL SOLDIER " The allurement is irresistible-" began Kitty, with admirable gravity. " I‘m delighted to hear it," he said. " So you accept me ? " 49 Kitty went up to her room, flung herself into a chair in her favourite attitude, with her chin in her hands, and stared at nothing- no. not nothing, but at the handsome face and manly form of a wounded "The politeness of a soldier should have compelled you to hear soldier. me out. I was going to add, that it would be irresistible if I were in love with you; but " " Don‘t go on, I beg of you I" he implored. " I'm not such a fat- headed idiot as to suppose that you are in love with me. \Vhat I wanted to ask you was to give me a show. You see, I've arranged with Mr. Thorold to stand, not only for this picture, but for an oinaintinW. which I suppose-don't know much about art-Will take some time."0 " You have ? \Vell. of all the l" "Quite so," he said meekly. " You see, it will give me a chance of tryingr to explain to you that, if you refuse me, it will be--oli, worse than a conical bullet in a particularly vital spot. All I ask is that you will look in now and again, and and give me an opportunity of+0f-" refreshment on a tray; and, with downeast eyes and a blush, informed her father that she had left his soda-and-milk in the dining-room because a change of scene and air would be good for him. She was still rosy with shame when the model sprang from the dais, caught her hand. and declared fervently that she was an angel. " No, I am a sly and deceitful, not to say forward. girl," said Kitty. " But I've only made an opportunity to tell you that I‘m not coming _ into the studio again while you're here." " That's all right," he responded cheerfully. " Come in just about this time. And I've found a jolly little A.B.C. shop where we can get " Iiotlieriug me to death," finished Kitty for him. some lunch to-day : second turning to the right, in the cornerAI should "No; bothering you into an eiigzigeinent-which is sometimes " Come, Miss like you to be able to tell me, quite quietly, why you find it necessary to refuse me. I think that's only fair to you." "And I think," said Kitty emphatically, "that you possess the "Thank you, concentrated cheek-I am sorry there is no stronger word-of the whole Captain Barnard." _ "If you were in love with me~absurd idea, of course! but I'm Just putting the ease-I'd come and sit with you and Drive you any amount of chances." D British Army ; and I decline your invitation." She kept him waiting at the A.B.C. shop for a good quarter of an hour. a serious affair, but not always fatal/"he said frankly. Kitty, don't be hard on me l It's not much to ask " l1, isn‘t it?" interjected Kitty with fine irony. lttll'llllth... Of course, she would not go near the studio while he was there. Consequently, the next morning, at half-past eleven, she entered with »..-.-- - -' ‘ Kitty heard her father's returning footsteps, and she stood up and looked from side to side, and then at this ineekly audacious youirr man, with a mixture of astonishment and bewilderment-and some: thing else I cannot define-in her really wonderful eyes. 2:11:13; Oglillliiiifcitc'90lie she said again. But he cut her short. 0 , said bieatliiessly; "thank you ever 50 ‘ much. 3 our fathers coming. I'm to be here at eleven o'clock every i'norning." . ."Aud you tlllllk,‘: said Kitty, as hurriedly, " that, by simply sitting ?here and regarding you in that absurd attitude 1 shall fall in ." i V l V . . ‘ s On. no,. .not at all. liortune Will have pity on me and give me an opportunity for seeing you for a minute or two alone. Besides. perhapsel only sry perhaps. niiiidl~-you might be induced to lunch at an A.B.C. shop. he Jerked out in a rapid whisper, as the innocent parent returned with his yellow ochre. In the afternoon Kitty presented herself at 209, Belgrave Square, and was shown into what a house-agent would call " the magnificent and spacious salon." Lady IIawborough was seated in a capricious chair, knitting for dear life; on a small table beside her was an orderly disorder of blue books, reports of charitable societies, vegetarian tracts, and the debris of her morning's correspondence. She received Kitty with more than graciousncss; for her ladyship. notwithstanding her crankiness. was the owner of that organ the possession of which we are led to believe atones for all minor faults, not to say crimes-a " good heart." Besides, she had been immensely taken with Kitty, and admired genuinely the pluck and readiness which the girl had displayed in the rescue of the puppy: of course, Lady Hmvborough was a prominent member of the S.l'.C.A. She gave Kitty some tea, patted her hand several times, and proceeded to put her through a kindly, but searching, catechism ; and, Hlnm unreal "IVE |