This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE COMING OF THE PRINCE.
51

"And you are going to flirt with everybody that comes along, with the idea that he may turn out to be your Prince?"

"I think I should know my Prince, without trying experiments. As for flirting, I suppose a poor girl may be allowed to make the most of the last opportunity she will ever have. I sha'n't be able to flirt after I am married, you know."

"I think you would flirt in your grave. You were flirting the other night with that horrid Mr. Trant."

"I am not sure that he is horrid. I think that under some circumstances he might be rather interesting."

"At any rate he is horrid for having sneaked so about the election."

"They say all is fair in love and war. The two must be hard at it now. I wonder that Frank Hallett hasn't written."

"I wonder that Horace hasn't written," said Ina uneasily. "I don't see how you can expect Mr. Hallett to write when you never answered his letter."

"Look here," said Elsie, "I don't think Horace is quite fit to be trusted by himself. He'll go flirting with the barmaids—you know Horace is a horrid flirt."

"Let us go over to Goondi to see about getting some things," said Lady Horace, "but I don't think that would be a good time. We must have a new colonial oven before the Waveryngs come. Oh! Elsie, what shall I do with them?"

Lady Horace took life placidly as a rule, but she was just now seriously discomposed by the news which had arrived by the last mail, that Lord and Lady Waveryng were about to make the tour of the world, and proposed to include the Australian Colonies in their programme.

Elsie laughed. "Never mind. Take them camping out. Let Horace look after them."

"If only the new house were built."

"Well, I expect you'll find that Horace has anticipated Lord Waveryng's remittance, in shouting champagne to the diggers, and there'll be nothing left to pay for the im-