and this man had fought by frank s side he had known and loved her mother had come to job when he was dying � and clearly at some trouble to himself � so that surely he was no stranger the girl thought as she sat and watched him then said to herself that he might have been fair once before time darkened his hair and his skin became by tropical for he had blue eyes and his brown beard was here and there with gold and his hands were as white as the narrow line between his brows and closely hair perchance in his sleep some of his lost youth and beauty came back to him as he lay with one arm thrown behind his head and the other stretched relaxed on the turf but somehow never thought of as middle aged again in some curious way he had taken the place of frank who in even middle age must needs be beautiful presently he opened his eyes and met that lovely intent gaze springing to his feet like a soldier whom sleep has surprised while on guard his startled eyes came back to and the food spread out on the grass beside her what an ungrateful brute you must think me he said kneeling down on the grass beside her and you have gone all that way in this blazing heat for me while have been sound asleep � doing nothing you have rested yourself she said nodding and that is the best of all and now for the and she cut a and laid it on the plate for which she had for i s e gotten to ask and here s the bread and � oh you must sit down you can t eat on your knees no he said without stirring but i can t eat � and don t ask me why he added looking wretched as her bright face fell for i can t tell you is it because it is father s bread and wine that you won t touch it said her busy hands falling to her sides and looking like a child ready to cry for dis appointment at losing a feast besides you drank the cordial you poured it down my throat he said � but what has father done to you that you should hate him she said standing up and looking indignantly at him as he too rose he who never wronged anyone in his life � my dear darling old good god ejaculated the stranger not as one who spoke but as if the words were wrung out of him by a thought of horror and why should i not she said looking with wonder at his averted face and stamping her little foot with anger is he not the best kindest noblest father a child ever had you cannot know him very well or you must be a stranger to since every soul in it knows something of the goodness of mr he drew a deep breath then said is he kind to the boy used to be fond of frank how could father be anything else she said the anger of her glance faltering as it fell on the face to which the former worn and weary look had come back and of course remembers lord � who ever forgot him so young so beautiful so brave s i i never thought anything of his looks said th stranger as one suddenly out of patience at her praises i wish to heaven he could come to life for five minute just to show you what a really commonplace fellow h was and as to his duty why other men did theirs every whit as well as he did his you are jealous of him said vexed at this in the man before her all men were envious of him she said but now that he is dead you might forgive him i hate all that rubbish about heroes he said still cross now if this man had lived he would probably be a grave middle aged man devoted to his estate possibly grown stout and a little bald he couldn t i said indignantly oh i had no idea men were so mean about one another and if he were middle aged why you are nearly that are you not and father is more � yet neither of you are stout and stupid she paused to consider him and caught a faint smile beneath his moustache that was a real of sunshine on the contrary you are both just right and do i seem so old to you he said with a curious note of pain in his voice that startled her and almost made her forget how keenly he had just disappointed her oh no she said shaking her bright head i prefer grown up people to young ones only the other day i told i wished he were not so young who is is lord he is a good fellow said the stranger eagerly you like him very much � s oh yes v she said i love him � next to and father and he loves you yes more than he does and father i think she sighed and that makes him jealous but he ll be better when he s grown up she added he passed his hand before his lips to hide a smile but you are only a uttle yourself he said gravely i never went to school she said rather proudly father taught me everything � all that i know the stranger shivered as though suddenly a cold and being a keen observer she thought of the and stooped for the basket with which she had originally started i am going to job now she said then coloured a little as one who suddenly grows shy for to an entire stranger was one thing but to take 