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〃With very great pleasure！〃 she replied in a hearty voice that seemed curiously enough rather to damp than cheer his drooping spirits。
No sooner had they left the room together than Darius； junior； turned energetically to his guest； and said in a voice ringing with pride
〃You may not believe me； Count； but I assure you that is the third fellow she has seen to the door inside a fortnight！ One Duke； one Viscountwho will expand into something more considerable some dayand this Honorable Pilkington！ Your friend； sir； will be a fortunate man if he is able to please my sister。〃
〃She seems； indeed； a charming girl。〃
〃Charming！ She is an angel in human form！ And I； sir； her brother； will see to it that she is not deceived in the man she choosesnot if I can help it！〃
The young man said this with such an air as Bunker supposed his forefathers to have worn when they hurled the tea into Boston harbor。
〃I trust that Lord Tulliwuddle； at least； will not fall under your displeasure； sir；〃 he replied with an air of sincere conviction that exactly echoed his thoughts。
〃Oh； Ri！〃 cried Eleanor； running back into the room； 〃he was so sweet as he said good…by in the hall that I nearly kissed him！ I would have； only it might have made him foolish again。 But did you see his shoulders； Count！ And oh； to think of marrying a gentle thing like that！ Is Lord Tulliwuddle a firm man； Count Bunker？〃
〃Adamantwhen in the right；〃 the Count assured her。
A renewed air of happy musing in her eyes warned him that he had probably said exactly enough； and with the happiest mean betwixt deference and dignity he bade them farewell。
〃Then； Count； we shall see you all to…morrow；〃 said Eleanor as they parted。 〃Please tell your hosts that I am very greatly looking forward to the pleasure of knowing them。 There is a Miss Gallosh； isn't there？〃
The Count informed her that there was in fact such a lady。
〃That is very good news for me！ I need a girl friend very badly； Count； these proposals lose half their fun with only Ri to tell them to。 I intend to make a confidante of Miss Gallosh on the spot！〃
〃H'm；〃 thought the Count； as he drove away； 〃I wonder whether she will。〃
CHAPTER XVIII
As the plenipotentiary approached the Castle he was somewhat surprised to pass a dog…cart containing not only his fellow…guest； Mr。 Cromarty…Gow； but Mr。 Gow's luggage also； and although he had hitherto taken no particular interest in that gentleman； yet being gifted with the true adventurer's instinct for promptly investigating any unusual circumstance； he sought his host as soon as he reached the house； with a view to putting a careless question or two。 For no one； he felt sure； had been expected to leave for a few days to come。
〃Yes；〃 said Mr。 Gallosh； 〃the young spark's off verra suddenly。 We didn't expect him to be leaving before Tuesday。 Butwell； the fact isumh'moh； it's nothing to speak off。〃
This reticence； however； was easily cajoled away by the insidious Count； and at last Mr。 Gallosh frankly confided to him
〃Well； Count； between you and me he seems to have had a kind of fancy for my daughter Eva； and then his lordship comingwell； you'll see for yourself how it was。〃
〃He considered his chances lessened？〃
〃He told Rentoul they were clean gone。〃
Count Bunker looked decidedly serious。
〃The devil！〃 he reflected。 〃The Baron is exceeding his commission。 Tulliwuddle is a brisk young fellow； but to commit him to two marriages is neither Christian nor kind。 And； without possessing the Baron's remarkable enthusiasm for the sex； I feel sorry for whichever lady is not chosen to cut the cake。〃
He inquired for his friend； and was somewhat relieved to learn that though he had gone out on the loch with Miss Gallosh； they had been accompanied by her brothers and sisters。
〃We still have half an hour before dressing；〃 he said。 〃I shall stroll down and meet them。〃
His creditable anxiety returned when； upon the path to the loch shore； he met the two Masters and the two younger Misses Gallosh returning without their sister。
〃Been in different boats； have you？〃 said he； after they had explained this curious circumstance； 〃well； I hope you all had a good sail。〃
To himself he uttered a less philosophical comment； and quickened his stride perceptibly。 He reached the shore； but far or near was never a sign of boat upon the waters。
〃Have they gone down！〃 he thought。
Just then he became aware of a sound arising from beneath the wooded bank a short distance away。 It was evidently intended to be muffled； but the Baron's lungs were powerful； and there was no mistaking his deep voice as he sang
〃 'My loff she's like a red； red rose Zat's newly sprong in June！ My loff she's like a melody Zat's sveetly blayed in tune！
Ach； how does he end？〃
Before his charmer had time to prompt him； the Count raised his own tolerably musical voice and replied
〃 'And fare thee weel； my second string！ And fare thee weel awhile！ I won t come back again； my love； For tis ower mony mile！
For an instant there followed a profound silence； and then the voice of the Baron replied； with somewhat forced mirth
〃Vary goot； Bonker！ Ha； ha！ Vary goot！〃
Meanwhile Bunker； without further delay； was pushing his way through a tangle of shrubbery till in a moment he spied the boat moored beneath the leafy bank； and although it was a capacious craft he observed that its two occupants were both crowded into one end。
〃I am sent to escort you back to dinner；〃 he said blandly。
〃Tell zem ve shall be back in three minutes；〃 replied the Baron； making a prodigious show of preparation for coming ashore。
〃I am sorry to say that my orders were strictly to escort； not to herald you；〃 said the Count apologetically。
Fortifying himself against unpopularity by the consciousness that he was doing his duty； this well… principled； even if spurious； nobleman paced back towards the house with the lady between him and the indignant Baron。
〃Well； Tulliwuddle；〃 he discoursed； in as friendly a tone as ever； 〃I left your cards with our American neighbors。〃
〃So？〃 muttered the Baron stolidly。
〃They received me with open arms； and I have taken the liberty of accepting on behalf of Mr。； Mrs。； and Miss Gallosh； and of our two selves； a very cordial invitation to lunch with them to…morrow。〃
〃Impossible！〃 cried the Baron gruffly。
Eva turned a reproachful eye upon him。
〃Oh； Lord Tulliwuddle！ I should so like to go。〃
The Baron looked at her blankly。
〃You vould！〃
〃I have heard they are such nice people； and have such a beautiful place！〃
〃I can confirm both statements；〃 said the Count heartily。
〃Besides； papa and mamma would be very disappointed if we didn't go。〃
〃Make it as you please；〃 said the Baron gloomily。
His unsuspicious hosts heard of the invitation with such outspoken pleasure that their honored guest could not well renew his protest。 He had to suffer the arrangement to be made； but that night when he and Bunker withdrew to their own room； the Count perceived the makings of an argumentative evening。
〃Sometimes you interfere too moch；〃 the Baron began without preamble。
〃Do you mind being a little more specific？〃 replied the Count with smiling composure。
〃Zere vas no hurry to lonch mit Maddison。〃
〃I didn't name the date。〃
〃You might have said next veek。〃
〃By next week Miss Maddison may be snapped up by some one else。〃
〃Zen vould Tollyvoddle be more lucky！ I have nearly got for him ze most charming girl； mit as moch money as he vants。 Ach； you do interfere！ You should gonsider ze happiness of Tollyvoddle。〃
〃That is the only consideration that affects yourself； Baron？〃
〃Of course！ I cannot marry more zan vonce。〃 （Bunker thought he perceived a symptom of a sigh。） 〃And I most be faithful to Alicia。 I most！ Ach； yes； Bonker； do not fear for me！ I am so constant asach； I most keep faithful！〃
As he supplied this remarkable testimony to his own fidelity； the Baron paced the floor with an agitation that clearly showed how firmly his constancy was based。
Nevertheless the Count was smiling oddly at something he espied upon the mantelpiece； and stepping up to it he observed
〃Here is a singular phenomenona bunch of white heather that has got itself tied together with ribbon！〃
The Baron started； and took the tiny bouquet from his hand； his eyes sparkling with delight。
〃It must be a gift from〃 he began； and then laid it down again； though his gaze continued fixed upon it。 〃How did it gom in？〃 he mused。 〃Ach！ she most have brought it herself。 How vary nice！〃
He turned suddenly and met his friend's humorous eyes。
〃I shall be faithful； Bonker！ You can trust me！〃 he exclaimed； 〃I shall put it in my letter to Alicia； and send it mit my love！ See； Bonker！〃
He took a letter from his deskits envelope still openhurriedly slipped in the white heather； and licked the gum while his resolution was hot。 Then； having exhibited this somewhat singular evidence of his constancy； he sighed again。
〃It vas ze only safe vay；〃 he said dolefully。 〃Vas I not right； Bonker？〃
〃Quite