A Damsel in Distress

"Fine!" said George heartily. He had not heard a word. The

alertness of sense which had come to him was accompanied by a

strange inability to attend to other people's speech. This would no

doubt pass, but meanwhile it made him a poor listener.

"Well, it's worth trying," said Reggie. "I'll give it a whirl.

Toodleoo!"

"Good-bye."

"Pip-pip!"

Reggie withdrew, and presently came the noise of the car starting.

George returned to his thoughts.

Time, as we understand it, ceases to exist for a man in such

circumstances. Whether it was a minute later or several hours,

George did not know; but presently he was aware of a small boy

standing beside him--a golden-haired boy with blue eyes, who wore

the uniform of a page. He came out of his trance. This, he

recognized, was the boy to whom he had given the note for Maud. He

was different from any other intruder. He meant something in

George's scheme of things.

"'Ullo!" said the youth.

"Hullo, Alphonso!" said George.

"My name's not Alphonso."

"Well, you be very careful or it soon may be."

"Got a note for yer. From Lidy Mord."

"You'll find some cake and ginger-ale in the kitchen," said the

grateful George. "Give it a trial."

"Not 'arf!" said the stripling.