h a nightcap wonderfully askew upon his handsome head, "I am off for Greenwood. Make my excuses, will you, to Colonel Churchill and the ladies? I will not be b

il?"-began th

r, with a twist of the lip half hu

ehead of perplexity, "He was up late last night-out in the garden alone. He rides off to Greenwood with the dawn, and we go home to-morrow. She can't have refused him-that's not possible!" He went

r at his niece, then sat heavily down, and in a querulous voice demanded coffee. Colonel Dick wore a frown. Deb, who before breakfast had visited a new foal in the long pasture, kept for a time the ball of conversation rolling; but the dulness and the chill in the air presently enwrapped

hat the arm did very well, and that its owner would soon be going about his business with all the rest of t

u 'Thank you.' He say he ain't gwine trouble you much longe

harpness, "you are spilling that cup o

le Edward inquired if it would be troublesome to Fairfax Cary to ride over to Tom Wood's and take a look at that black stallion Tom bragged of. Unity went to her aunt's chamber; the younger Car

ded the weighing of flour and sugar and the measuring of Java coffee, and finally saw that the drawing-room was properly darkened against the sunny morning, and that the water was fresh in the bowls of flowers. She leaned for a moment again

ward, I never could talk to a woman! Ask

said Uncle Edward, with gentleness. "Not perhaps from your point of

y, settled it when you were born and Fauquier's son was a lad at Maury's school! When Henry died, and Fauquier C

you are to us, and how the future and the happiness

" cried the other, "and his son's his image! There'

eline," said Uncle Edward, "though God fo

olonel Dick, "and good

ts are set on this match. Mr. Ludwell Cary asked your uncle's permission to s

could be unreasonable or ungrateful, and we don't dream it now! Nor blind.

eline, and we hoped to be ha

have me,' says he, 'and you who have been so good to me, are to be good still, and not by word or look reproach her or distress her. The heart goes its own way, and loves where it must. She is an angel, and

e. I love you, child, more than my old tongue can say. My Castle in Spa

brave and good-He is all that you say.

are not men who give up easily. God forbid, child, that I should hint to you, who are

owed. I am not ungrateful-I am mad-perha

ckler for mind. To his wealth and to his name and his great personal advantages Ludwell Cary adds intellect. He may become a power in his country and his time. You would so aid him, child! I am calle

," answered Jacqueline.

him. You a

. That is

prettiest wedding gown! It's all a mistake and a misunderstanding, and the good Lord knows there's too much of both in this old world! You'll thin

ake and no misunderstanding. Love cannot be f

n't by any chance love some one else? What does tha

ls of the old, gazed at their niece with perplexity and anger. With the simpler of the two the perplexity was the greater, with the other anger. A fear was knocking at Major Churchill's heart. He would not admit it, strove not to listen to it, or to

ck! If I could love, if I could marry Mr. Cary, I wo

e, Jacqueline, I'll not say a word, sorry as I am for Cary. But if it's Will Allen

said Jacqueline, with a burning cheek. "Oh

cious fool to think this thing of Jacqueline. It's all some girl's fancy or other, and if we go ea

her duty-and that we expect her compliance. She doesn't want to wound us cruelly, to

k. "Don't you ever let a time come when your singing won't be the sweetest sound in the wor

uttered a broken cry, turned, groped a little for the door, found and opened it, and was gone. They heard

ils her, Edward? Every decent young fellow in the county comes to Fontenoy straight as a bee to the honey-pot! I've heard them sighing for her and Unity, but I never coul

. Never fear but he'll ride over often! He mustn't guess, of course, that you have spoken to her. And that's all we can do, Dick, except-" Major Edward walked stiffly across the floor and paused before the portrait of his brother Henry, dead and gone these many years. The face looked imperiously down upon him.

o do with it?" a

blue room, and out of Fontenoy! and now, Dick, I've got a

d Miss Dandridge's sentence. His behaviour was perfection, but "He's hard hit," said his brother to himself. "What, pray, would Miss Churchill have?" And Unity, "The shepherds and shepherdesses don't match.