"What is the matter?" she asked, arching her brows as she surveyed
the general disorder.
"We're packing," said I.
"It may surprise you to hear it," said she, taking the seat, "but so
I had guessed. What is it? Preparing for the pheasants, or for
Quarter Day?"
"Neither," I answered. "I'm going to South America, that's all.
. . . That will do for the present, Jephson. You may get Miss
Denistoun a cup of tea."
"Sudden?" she asked, when Jephson had withdrawn.
"Well," I admitted, "I booked my passage only two days ago, but I've
had the notion in my mind for some time."
"Alligators, is it? or climbing, this time? Or just general
exploring?"
"You may call it exploring, though I may have a shy at the Andes on
the way. These fits come upon me at intervals, Constantia, as you
know, ever since you determined to be unkind."
"Don't be absurd, Roddy," she commanded, tracing out a pattern of the
carpet with the point of her sunshade. The tracing took some time.
At length she desisted, and looked up, resting her arms on her knees.
"Roddy, I'm engaged to be married.
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