Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-04

she WAe fastening nnt-icaN'o .h'y CIVIL
other 20 make wreath, rs he had seen
German children do, and she went on do
ing il after the first words Of greeting had
been said.
He was silent for minute or two, and
then said: :" am thinking OF an arrange
ment that might perhaps be made, bat |
am not sure that it would suit you. ! would
tell You about il, only am 50 afraid OF dls-
turbing you.n He was speaking TO Fairfax,
but his sister looked up and said, You had
better talk TO me If there ls anything 10 ar
range. he forgets TO listen when his effect
is on"
"Cool people these" thought the Squire.
but ne only said Can you give me an
idea what accommodation YOU want!
I've want two bedrooms and two sit
ting-rooms if we can get them. but we nave
only one sitting-room at the inn, and could
make one 10 in a new place"
"Oh, then think II might do very well,
said he. dropping down on the earth,
which he never FOR a moment forgot was
his own property. with the air OF n man
who needed 10 invitation 10 take seat.
Miss Agnes. though he was not very near
her. instinctivcly moved a little further on.
1T is at my agents house." sad the
Squire. 81 never allow HIM TO let rooms,
but will gladly make an exception IN your
case"
She thanked him-the sensation Of being
thanked by any one 50 pretty was very
Dleasant-and asked where the agent lived.
- You know the Manor House? ?" asked Mr..
Rokewood. THE agent lives in the white
house not far from the lodge gate"
But | don't know the Manor House
said Agnes. I" / always come here with
Robin-I have done no prowling about
yet"
Lucky Robin" thought the Squire, but
he was rather angry with her for not know
ING where the Manor House was, and why
did she talk about prowling ?-the Manor
House was large enough TO be seen, and
/ found without any proving. Every one
/ knows the Manor House. he said. with an
air Of conviction. 1T stands on the hill
/ behind the church perhaps the trees hide
+ il little"
Il wish had seen it will before / see
/ Won next" she said with a little smile
! which did not escape the Squire. Was
/ Miss Fairfax presuming to laugh at himf
"Thething to know is whether you think
/ Won would like me TO tell the agent that he
may let his rooms"
The arrangement sounds delightful
perfectly delightful-but don't say any
| thing decided 10 the agent until we have
seen them"
1t had never occurred to Mr.. RokewoOd
/ that there was any chance OF their not
/ liking them.
1--WE will. with your permission, go and
/ look at them this afternoon" said Miss
| Fairfax. 1T is most kind Of you 70 think
/ OF it,"
( There was certain air OF concluding
/ the interview about this, but the Squire
/ could not bring himself to go. Was Sells
wvke sometimes dull to him? Miss ar
fax's wreath was made and twisted round
her hat, and now she was sitting 10y the
edge of the bank looking down into the
water, and watching row of trout lying
with their heads patiently turnedup stream
waiting for such food as might come.
Throw that line in" she exclaimed; Il
should like 10 soc you catch fish.
Then come TO the duh" he said, Won
dering whether she would.
Robin, am going 10 some pool with
Mr.. RokewOOd,' she exclaimed. lie IS
going 10 let me see him catch fish.
Many fish most likely" replied Robin
carclcssly, and she went.
They took a great fancy to the agents
| house. and lett the inn tor it almost direct
". and the next time they saw Mr.. koke-
wood, which. TO tell the truth, was very
soon, they expressed much gratitude. He,
too. might have expressed gratitude. but
was prudently silent. There was a shady
walk at the back Of his kitchen garden
which ran almost beneath the walls of the
AGENTS house. and when Mr.. lockwood
walked there, which, now that he had be-
come aware of its advantages. he did every
night, lie could hear such music as
had never before delighted his ears. The
FairfaXes, who evidently considered a
piano necessary Of life had hired an eX-
cellent one at ScOrtOn, and now no night
passed without Agnes playing for a couple
of hours. and a. the windows were open
Mr.. ROkewoOd could hear TO PERFECTION
Every day added to his envy OF that
brother. Agnes was young, pretty, clever,
affectiOnate. and above all, musical, and
that brother of hers profted by al these
good gifts daily. The Fairfaxes were both
extremely friendly with Mr.. RokewOOd
now. but he observed that even if he hap
pened to meet them near their own door,
or walk home with them from young Fair
fax's sketching place and go quite up to
their door. they never by any chance gave
/ him an invitation to 90 IN, even though he
often lay in wait for IT, Perhaps they
/ have taken it into their heads that my
mother ought TO call" he thought, and re-
/ cooled at the immensely Of the idea. Hav-
/ inc once thought of this; be thought OF 1t
| again. and presently 1t lost some OF ITS
/ awe, and at length about six weeks after
/ Miss Agnes's arrival the day came when he
said to the spare, angular lady, clad IN rich
/ silk, who was his mother. Don't Won
/ think it would be kind to call on the FAIR
I faxes. mother? They are quite gentle
/ folk-very well educated, and
Il have no intention Of making their ac-
quaintance, Godfrey" said Mrs. Rokewood
| frigidly.
mother?"
Il have no feeling either for or against
/ them. ! simply do not want TO do it, Airs.
/ Rokewood answered with stony :ndifer-
/ cnce.
"If say should very much like you to
do it, mother, will You call p
IF could see any good reason for your
wishing it. of course ] would
1t would be kind
so many things that one does not do
would be kind" said Mrs. lockwood, and
/ imagined that she had given him an an
swcr.
"They are very nice people"
MY not calling Will not make them less
nice"
Miss Fairfax is an admirable musician"
You 20 10 the house ~ she exclaimed
with a certain vehemence of surprise, for
/ it was so unlike him 4" to make himself COM
mon III tins way.
mo, have not been TO the house, but |
/ have heard her play. | happened when |
was smoking one night to stray out of one
garden into another. and at last | went
into the Elm walk, and, mother Won have
I nOcOnceptlOn how lnagnliicently she plays.
/ The windows were open. and heard"
There YOU attack me IN a weak part
said Mrs. Rokewood-s was passionately
fond of music.
Call on her then, and she will play for
you"
Il don't want to call on her" answered
Mrs. Rokewood decisively.
Her son said no more, but that night
when he Was in the Elm walk he heard a
low football, and presently a Slight, frail
figure. shrouded in black, stole through
the darkness TO his side. Don't be
startled, Godfrey" she whispered. its
your mother come TO hear this music.
/ don't think should have dared 70 come if
had known what a long way it would
seem in the dark"
He gave her his arm and guided her
faltering feet nearer to the house. There
they stood listening for some time, during
which every fibre OF Mrs. Rokewood's
being was thrilled with delight. That
night she would have crept to the agents
house on her Bonded knees TO call on Miss
Agnes. but next day the ice had reunited
and left no weak spot.
Come into the garden with me- said
the Squire the next evening after dinner.