TWO DIPLOMATS

New Zealand Mail, 29 January 1902, Page 22

TWO DIPLOMATS

"It's not easy," said Miss Clinton, indefinitely. "No,” I concurred; “but everything ought to be easy for you.” “To fall in love?” continued Augusta, Unheeding, as she watched tho cauuie disappear. "I find it very easy.” "Naturally/ "Only in one instance,” I hastened to add. “But poor Roddy 1 I had no idea it was as bad as that between you two.” “I was entirely impersonal, sir.” "Unhappily marriages, Mis*: Clinton, are the bane of modern society.” ’ "Exactly,” she agreecL "ExactJy what?” "Exactly why I was going to avoid marriage.”

‘Vincti to salutanvus.” “What does that mean?” she asked. "Freely translated. Shall we sit on the steps?” “ Steps for beginners ?” “That depends; you may just be starting in tho beginners’ class, but as for me, I'm in the first class, for I begun two years ago, when I first saw you.” "Steps in Latin, 1 mean,” she said, quickly.

“Of course,” I assented, wearily, for I saw Koddy coming from the sixth hole. “Shall we begin the Latin with ' Love’ ?” "It's usually the start. I know how to conjugate the verb in French, and I should like to know it in all tongues.” "You do,” I averred.

"I love, you love,” she began. "Your accent is poor, remarkably so.” My tone was judicial. "The proper way is ' I love you, love/ ” "Hello, old man 1” said a voice. "The deuce!” said I. "No, it’s only Koddy, ’’ answered Augusta, sweetly. "Do you want to play golf, Burroughs?” asked the intruder, dropping on the grass. "Certainly,” I answered politelv. “That is, by and bye; and i’ll bet you fifty I can beat you two up.” “You beat me? Nonsense!” "Go ahead, then, and show your superiority, young man.” "All right, old chap, it’s easy money, I’m off,” retorted Koddy, airily, as he went away. "Why, he’s runner-up to the champion. You can’t possibly beat him when you can’t drive over fifty yards. You’re not poor, I hope?” was Augusta’s solicitous tominent. “My golf may be open to criticism, but Noddy’s gone, and it’s cheap at the price.” "Oh,” she said, and blushed. " The triumph of diplomacy over vanity,” I replied, sententiously. The Latin class will please come to order.” "I can’t decline love,” said Augusta. “No?” I returned eagerly. “I’ll conjugate it. I love, you love,” she went oil. “The accent, please.” "I love you, love, if you prefer then,” said Augusta, a bit hastily. "Good. That’s much better.” "Oh, Burroughs, I say old man,” said Koddy, turning up again, "you’d better come round with me, watch the scores and keep me company.” "I would, hut Miss Clinton has just Jiromised me a twosome—haven’t you ?” I lied with some trepidation, turning towards her. “To be sure,” said she, sweetly. "I’m very sorry, Koddy, to deprive you of Mr Burroughs’s society, but I want to beat him myself. There’s Billy over there.” "But I don’t want to play .billy. too good for me.”

"Oh, Koddy, you’re not a Sportsman; you re afraid of the champion,” said Augusta, reproachfully. "You want to play Mr^ Burroughs only because you can beat "Of course, if you think that, Augusta” ■ ■ began Roddy, on his dignity. Well, 111 bet you five dances to five

pounds of chocolate you can’t beat him,” she replied, tauntingly. "Five dances—really?” he said, brightening. "To be sure,” she answered. "It’s a bet.”

He bolted after Billy. “Thank you, Miss Clinton,” I said, rising, “for your triumph of diplomacy over vanity. Y r ou may come off those steps for beginners.” "Yes,” slie said, softly, after a moment, "I think I’ve graduated into the second class.”—"Snap-Shots.”