in the

st cock crow

e, as swee

honey, milk

t to rights

ultry, sat

odest maide

tina R

after breakfast that morning, she told h

of her she could not have told what she hoped or desired. She stare

. Gaunt to come to-morrow,

, are you not mad?" cried t

mfort to him. His way of doing things seems odd; but he is lonely, and I daresay he has been soured. I w

s so altered, so strange, tha

hy do you

kind to you." How ridiculous that sounded! And upon what was it based? Only upon the man's manner-his insolence

know him-you can't lo

t would be different." She stood beside the bed, playing with one of its brass corner-knobs. "You know, mamma, I am rather an odd girl," said she with a swift blush. "I think

yes. "You are-yes, you certainly are odd," she mutter

better than she herself t

I am simply saying that he may come here and see me to-morrow.

ther sharply. "What

ou say he is eccentric. He may not be trustworthy. In any case, I shall not agree to do as he asks without being certain that

or!" began Mrs. Mynors, almost in a scream. She broke off

ound myself cheated of the price? You must know that I should not think of marrying a man I have hardly seen and do not love, excep

rgie, you know that I do not de

Mr. Gaunt comes, I feel that he is a person I never could care for, if he repels me utterly, I will draw back. But you know,

"You would never know him for the same man. He used to be so t

stop it? She reflected that Virginia was not accepting definitely-only promising to consider the matter. Let things take their course. She believed the

t like hatred she studied the pure outline of the profile, the effect of the sunlight glinting through the b

n to me about it! How do you suppose I like being told that you are sacrificing

Virginia, a trifle rigidly. She

*

like a sigh. She felt as those who have been in a sinking ship have described themselves as feel

day. It was hard to stave off her pertinacious inquiry, but Virgie was able to tell her that negot

day-a day of persistent fine rain w

telegraph boy sounded upon the little door. Virginia

y to business offer, w

at the message, which was reply paid. The boy w

knowledge that all hope was over? She would not show her mother t

pencil

sible till after vis

into the kitchen with limbs shaking. She felt as if she had

d the meaning of the double knock. She replied tranquilly to her mother that Mr. Gaunt had tried to extort a definite answer,

in her hands the follo

g by delay. Arr

ice of Mr. Askew, the solicitor, who had helped her with the agreement for Laburnum Villa, and in one or two other small matters. She asked him to come up

ut after reflection she agreed. Mr. Gaunt must not think them too utterly in his power. She felt like the besieged citizens who threw loaves of bread over the walls, in order that the besiegers mi

ponsible-looking middle-aged woman in a very clean apron, and

him. She thought he looked less vindictive, less ironical than he had see

nsidering the subject, as I foresaw she w

ich was difficult to keep within bounds, but her own panic, when she knew that there was a doubt of

man of business, whereas her head is as clear as a man's. She wishes to h

ent. "Sharp young woman, indeed! Well, I respect her for that. There's no reason that I know

quite of age, but I have always left her a great liberty of action. In fact, we have been more like

ely. "Did she remember having m

very well!" cried Mrs. Mynors, and her

well then. Is love at first sight the pro

ked at him through the eyes of the elder Virginia

old you that you were no fool. I thought you could be trusted to prepare th

or opened softly an

d to the tiny villa, and she had hitherto worn it only in London. Any man beholding her might have been p

hat she knew herself safe in his hands. It might have made appeal to the veriest ruffian, had not his eye been jaundiced by h

are not going to commit yourself unti

ling, dark face and big, rather hulking person

sked. She was speaking playfully, while her eyes sought his, as wanting to understand, to obtain some key to his cur

ose I ought to begin with some kind of apology for such a blunt offer, hey? But I am told that young ladies nowadays like something o

lifted to those of the man who remembered each look and

"I told my friend that I thought you must imagine that you knew me. I was interested when mamma said

ell," he said, in a voice which thrilled her curiously, "perhaps y

me small movement, enough to attract his attention, and caught a ray o

to the girl, his tone subdued an

ngely enough, the fact that the man gave her no help counted in his favour with her. His manner suggested some tremendous feeling, out of s

upon the ground, "that I am an adequate exchang

te-what have I promi

. This avoidance gave her courage. "To educate Tony," said her voice, so fatally like her mother's in its cadenced sweetn

t, right enough.

ve thousand p

said, with a sarcasm which penetrated to the girl's

soothingly. "I agree to

" she replied, quite tranquilly. "It is that you should make a will in my fa

apacity," said he, "but I warn you that I am horribly healthy. Except for the accident which la

have sounded very cold-blooded," she apologised. "

g his voice to a low persuasiveness:

ia spoke. "No," she told him; "I tho

t wooing undertone, "with a man who h

here which was utterly beyond her. S

e?" he asked. The blood rushed to her cheeks now in headlon

iption," he pursued. "I told myself how true

re. He could trace the regret, the quiver of feeling, and he could say to himself: "She loves young R

en I am beaten," he went on smoothly. "I

already felt this strong inclination, then she must satisfy him; the marriage ought to be a success, since he had the desire to love, and she the will to please,

a-table, at which she seated herself, pouring the tea and dispensing it

-of the late heat, and the rain, and the climate of Wayhurst. Small support did she receive from either of her companions;

anged matters, subject to your finding the bu

ightly in her lap, hesitated, rose, and went to the window, gazing forth upon the little wet street. Over the way, at Alpine Cottage, the pug had managed to get shut out in the rain. It was astonishing how often he did this. It was th

s but a step, for the room was tiny. "For instance, don't you want it put in the settlements that you should ha

on. She turned to him her lovely, tender smile. "Oh, all

e looked as though a momentary doubt assailed him. Then he realised that he

achelor that I did not provide for this occasion before I left town by the purchase of a ring. But I see upon your mother's finger a jewel which, if I mistake not, belongs to me." He appro

on," h

terpret. Mrs. Mynors hid her face behind her perfumed wisp of lawn; but, then, she would have done that in any case at such a

ok the ring from him and obedie

kly, "farming my own land; and my estate is a big one. I must go down there to-night to superintend the end of the hay harvest, and I must stay there a few days in order to prepare the house for your reception. I should like to be married this day

rs. Mynors. "This cannot be. Virginia does not know you; she

I must be married before we begin to reap, and it is going to be a very early harvest this year. Don't make difficulties.

was to have an operation I would rather have

n be ready," she said gently. "Le

o we will take this as settled. Is that your solicitor now entering the gate? I will give him my instructions