much said promptly she drew the dark cloak more closely about her shoulders do you mind walking with me a little way she asked after a moment s hesitation it is so cold standing still a test of friendship the colonel did not mind it in the least he was very much interested in miss pierce and in her he did not attempt to conceal that fact from himself why should he her father had been his friend philip had refused rather hotly it is true to co operate with her step mother the day before but then that was before all the facts of the case were before him no man is quite consistent even the most among us can find excellent reasons for following our own inclinations anyhow it happened that on that damp and sombre afternoon colonel had a little walk with the young lady which tended to make hun entertain a much more amiable opinion of and its surroundings i thought the other day i should like to talk to you she had said when they were fairly started on the road leading down through the i want to ask you several things i think you have influence with mamma perhaps you could speak to her it is so dull here i want to go away mamma says she requires retirement but i don t in the least require i was much happier at we went into society at and was at he has been strange lately he says all sorts of things he is very melancholy he sits and at me a sense of relief came over philip he could not have said ly why do you mind very much being stared at he inquired looking at the girl by his side and smiling it is very to be stared at by somebody who looks dismal and does not speak she answered quickly is fond of reading scientific books about the origin of all sorts of things he firmly believes that we are all descended from i am inclined to think it must be true too sometimes for his eyes are exactly like s when he sits and and says nothing it is not pleasant the girl gave a little shudder and then went on speaking again that peculiarly distinct and clear cut utterance i wish mamma would go back to england she says it is too expensive and that the climate does not suit her but i want to see it english girls have so much more liberty they have so many amusements i should like england colonel stopped this struck him as rather a happy idea stopped too and turned to him they were standing beneath one of the crooked fir trees th carriage road about down to the iron gates colonel en s wife ah you want to go to england he said briefly yes i want immensely to go we could settle down and know people here everybody whom we know goes away sooner or later only and mamma and i remain you want me to ask mrs pierce to take you home to england said philip ah do do cried the girl softly but fervently she clasped her pretty white hands in an imploring manner while her long cloak flying back in a sudden gust of wind revealed her slim graceful figure colonel s heart warmed sensibly towards this charming young lady she confided in him with such engaging frankness he felt more at home with her too out of doors in the gloom and wet than in the lofty rooms and amid the faded of the little red villa i ll talk to mrs pierce he said after a moment s reflection i believe it would be an excellent i dare say i could be of some use to you � find you rooms you know and that sort of thing then you might have a couple of months in london during the season and come down into afterwards your father he added gently was a man you would like to see his county wouldn t you whether it was the prospect of seeing poor beau pierce s native county or whether other and less floated before s eyes i cannot say but she certainly smiled upon her companion with a brilliant nd delighted smile ah i knew you would help me she said meanwhile philip went on we must try to make things a little more cheerful for you here let me see to day s thursday suppose you and mrs pierce come and dine with me at the grand hotel on saturday if it s fine there s a very nice opening out into the garden you know it wouldn t be exciting exactly but it would be a little change it would be delightful answered i like going out i like a i like the lights and the people moving about and the httle tables and the of the glasses and things philip smiled it touched him somehow there was a wonderful freshness and response in this young nature you have a great faculty for enjoyment he said with a certain tone of regret in his voice by contrast he felt very old at that moment the colonel who so far had accepted his increasing years with indifference and resignation was dimly conscious of entertaining a deepening grudge against them a test of friendship th rain is coming on again he continued after a minute s silence we d better walk back to the villa � i mustn t let you get wet one moment cried the girl about england � you must be a little careful how you approach mamma she may not like it you need not say that the suggestion came originally from me need you undoubtedly was very engaging just then her innocent flower of a face her sweet round mouth a little open her whole attitude questioning and eager you want 