The midland journal., 1886-05-28
SOS5E e .CI ED.
covTrNTFn FROM THIn

CONTINUED FROM THO p'Gr.
-'"scBut will not my speaking to him on the
subject have the same effect!
81 think not. A young man will bear
from young man what lie would resent i'll
an elder. Lord Heriot is passionate, and he
is very foolish. 1t will not be easy to deal
with him."
Hereward turns back to the house; and the
Doctor walks beside him.
81 wish you would try what you could do,
he says anxiously.
sI cannot undertake to dictate to Lord
Heriot. Why don't you speak to the girl
She seems the more sensible of the two,
Hereward suggests.
''She is that certainly. But it would be
an awkward business She would be sure to
take it in bad part-she has such a temper!"
s'What matter if she did She may look
at the affair in different light from what
you suppose. Perhaps she is only little
fiattered by his admiration You cannot
tell. Where is this lover of hers-young
North 2"
'.He is paying his addresses still, believe.
But her tather won't allow him inside his
doors, and the lad seems desperate. The
girl Hirts with him very cruelty if she does
not intend to take him. "
seWhy don't you give them a fortune and
let them marry at once? That would be the
easiest way out of your difficulty"
81 wish it could be DONE Win you speak
to the girl?"
Hereward hesitates. It is very delicate
ground
''If you mean, will I appeal to her own
common sense i'll the matter, do not mind.
1 think the girl is not fool, though she may
happen to overreach herself in this. Yes, [
will speak 70 her, if you think it will be of
any use. But confess to you honestly that
would much rather keep out of the affair. "
'But for his sslle-for all their sakes-I
am sure you will do your best" the Doctor
says, relieved. And then they re-enter tho
house together.
Hereward walks down to the Mill Nook
that afternoon. He does not like the office
he has undertaken, but he will not shrink
from it since he nus undertaken it. He finds
the girl less hard to deal with than he i'm
aeined she would be. she listens to his sage
reasoning, and seems suitably impressed by
it. She does not resent his interference.
If it can be called inference. Here
wards advice tends more to the accept
ing of one lover than the discarding of the
other for that Lord Heriot has made down.
right love to her the girl does not deny.
HereWard is somewhat startled to find
that this is the fact. He does not care
whether she repeats his words to Lord Heriot
or not he says nothing he wonld not quite
as willingly have sad to him had he felt
called to do SO.
The girl seems honest in what she says,
and promises to give Lord Heriot no more
encouragement, promises not to see him
when he comes 10 the mill. Hereward hints
that her fathers objections to young North
on the score of poverty can be very easily
overcome, and this seems to please her. it
is quite plain which lover has really made
the most impression upon her heart. But
the girl IS born coquette, and, even while
listening demurely, Is wondering whether
Hereward is admiring her pretty face.
Perhaps he is-at all events his heart is
s. not in the business he has set himself to per
form. 1t jars upon him, yet some unseen
influence makes him persevere i'll it. He
does not wonder at Lord Heriots admiration
of this exquisite face, but he does wonder
how any gentleman. accustomed all his life to
the society of women of his own rank can
enjoy the society or conversation OF a rustic
maiden who dusts a chair for him with Ls.
apron and speaks such exceedingly fauli:s
English.
Anne Grace Trathaway accompanies him
up the riyer-path ca his way home She is
going to the village for butter, she tells him,
and takes plate with her wheleon to carry
it. She assumes no airs because of her noble
lover she has perhaps too much good sense.
Hereward perccives that, though tiirt, she
has q steadnes of character which seems in
itself a safeguard, so far is Lord Heriot is COLI
cerned, anl which will certainly prove Il
safeguard to herself.
The river-path runs parallel to theriver, as
will naturally be infer;ed, and the loal above
lies parallelto the path. Occasionally the one
is visible from the other, where the trees
grow less thicllly on the steep slope. Thus
1T happens that three equestrians on the
road above are distinctly aware of Hercward
and the miller's pretty daughter on the path
below. They can even see the earnestness
with which he is speaking, and certain
saucy air of attention with which she listens.
There is no mistaking Miss Trathaways red
and-greea plaid, or Hercward's trick of walk
ing with his hands in his pockets.
'That's how yoIr brothers tutor manages
to amuse himself !" Mr.. Cartwright observes,
pointing to rhem with the handle of his whip
Lady Gladys Palliser gives one glance, and
StOOnC 10 bo, borcac nacl-