He
would like to do anything rather than sit and think that this is the
last time we shall all be together again in this way."
"I'm sure I don't see why we should not," said Sydney. "To say
nothing of meetings in England; Duke and Armine have only to cough
three times in October, and we should all go off together again, and
be as jolly as ever."
"I don't mean to cough," said Armine, gravely, "I've wasted enough of
my life already."
"In our company, eh?" said Sydney, "or are you to be taken by
contraries?"
"No," said Armine. "One has duties, and lotus-eating is uncommonly
nice, but it won't do to go on for ever. I wouldn't have given in to
it this winter if Allen hadn't _floored_ us."
"And then when you thought I had got a tutor, and should do some good
with him," chimed in Babie, he must needs go and fall in love and
spoil our Miss Ogilvie."
The disgust with which she uttered the words was so comic, that all
the others burst out laughing.
And Fordham said—
"The Land of Afternoon was too strong for him. Shall you really pine
much for Miss Ogilvie, Infanta?"
"I shall miss her dreadfully," said Babie," and I think it is very
stupid of her to leave mother, whom she has known all her life, and
all of us, for a strange man she never saw till four months ago.
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