Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-10

"You had better talk to me if there Is anything
to arrange; he forgets to listen when his effect
is on"
''Cool people, these )" thought the squire, but
he only said: sCan you give me an idea what
accommodation you want?' .
1--WE want two bed rooms and Two sitting
rooms If We can get them, but we have only
one sitting room at the inn, and could make
one do in q new place."
..Oh, then I think it might do very WELL -
said he, dropping down on the earth, which he
never for moment forgot was his own prop
erty, with the air of a man who needed no in
vltatlon to take a seat.
Miss Agnes, though he was not very near her,
instlnctively moved a little further Off
1t Is at my agents house" said the squire.
Il never allow him to let rooms but will
gladly make an exception in your case"
She thanked him-the sensation of being
tnanked by any one SO pretty was very pleas
ant-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 housem said
Agnes; Il always come here with Robin-I
have done no prowling about vet"
Lucky Robin!'' thought the squire, but he
was rather angry with her for not knowing
where the Manor house was, and why did she
talk about prowlng?-the Manor house was
large enough to be seen and found without any
proving. Every one knows the Manor house v
he said. with an air of conviction. TT stands
on the hill behind the church; perhaps the
trees hide it a little"
Il wish had seen i'll will before see you
next, she said. with little smile which did
not escape the squire Was Miss Fairfax pre-
Stunning to laugh at him?
The thing to know is whether you think you
would like me to tell the agent that he may let
his rooms"
1.-THE arrangement sounds delightful-per-
iectly delightful-but don't say anything
fhn
them"
1t had never occurred to Mr.. Rokewood
them.
I'VE will, with your permission, go and look
at Tn m TINS afternoon" said Miss Fairfax. 1T
is most KIND OF You to think of it"
There was a certain air of concluding the in
terview about this but the squire could not
bring himself to go. Was Selswyke sometimes
dull to him? Miss Fairfax's wreath was made
and twisted round her hat, and now she was
sitting by the edge of the bank looking down
into the water and watching a row of trout w.
ing with their heads patiently turned up stream
waiting for such food as might come
Throw that line in" she exclaimed; II
should like to see you catch fish,
whether she would
Robin, l am going to some pool with Mr.
Rokewood," she exclaimed; ..he is going to let
me see him catch a fish,"
Many hsh most likely" replied Robin care
lessly, and she went.
They took great fancy to the agents house.
and left the inn for it almost directly, and the
next time they saw Mr.. Rokewood, which. to
tell the truth, was very soon. they expressed
much gratitude. He, too, might have expressed
gratitude, but was prudently silent There was
shady walk at the back of his kitchen garden
which ran almost beneath the walls of the
agents house, and when Mr.. Rokewood walked
there, which, now that he had become aware of
Its advantages, he did every night, he could
near such music as had never before de-
lighted his ears. The Fairfaxes, who evil
IDENTIFY considered piano a necessary of life,
mad hired an excellent one at Scorton, and
now no night passed without Agnes PLAYING
for couple of hours, and as the windows
were open Mr.. Rokewood could hear to perfec-
ton: Every day added to his envy of that
brother. Agnes was young, pretty. clever.
affectionate. and, above all, musical and that
brother of hers profited by all these good gifts
daily. The Fairfaxes were both extremely
friendly with Mr.. Rokewood now, but he OBJ
served that even if he happened to meet them
near their own door, or walk home with them
from young Fairfax's sketching place and 60
quite up to their door, they never by any
chance gave him an invitation to go in, even
though he often lay in wait for it. "Perhaps
they have taken it into their heads that NV
mother ought to calli' he thought. and recoied
at the immensely of the idea. Having once
thought OF this, he thought of it again. and
presently 1t lost some of its ave. and at length
about six weeks after Miss Agnes arrival, the
day came when he said to the spare, angular
lady, clad in rich silk, who was his mother:
Don't you think it would be kind to call on
the Fsirfaxes, mother2 They are quite gentle
folk-very well educated, and"
II have no intention of making their &C.
quaintace, Godfrey" said Mrs. Rokewood
frigidly.
Have you any feeling against them,
mother?"
81 have no feeling either for or against them
I simply do not want to do it." Mrs. Rokewood
answered with stony Indifference.
IF say l should very much like you to do
1t, mother, will you call2'
"If could see any good reason for your
wishing it, of course would"
at would be kind"
$50 many things that one does not do would
be kind, said Mrs. Rokewood and imagined
that she had given him an answer.
They are very nice people"
my not calling will not make them less
nice"
"Miss Fairfax is an admirable musician"
you go to the housed" she exclaimed with a
certain vehemence of surprise, for it was so un-
like him Ito make himself common in this
way.
mo, have not been to the house. but have
heard her play. l. happened when / was
smoking one night to stray out of one garden
into another, and at last 1 went into the Elm
walk, and, mother, you have no conception
how magnifcently she plays! The windows
were open and heard"
'There you attack me in a weak part" said
Mrs. Rokewood-she was passionately fond Of
music.
"Can on her, then, and she will play for
YOU"
II 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 slight frail figure, shrouded in
black, stole through the darkness to his side
Don't be startled, Godfrey" she whispered;
sits yonr mother come to hear this music 1
don't think should have dared to come il I
had known what 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
fiber 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 re-
united and left no weak spot
'"Come into the garden with me-" said the
squire the next evening after dinner. She said
she would not, but went, and after her nature
had once more been softened by what she
heard, she said: "Geofrey, Iwill call on that
girl, if you like, tomorrow"
'Thank you," said he, much pleased by this
concession, "you won't repent it. They are
both charming; it's Just one Of those cases
which show the folly Of yielding to first i'm
pressions."
ssYours was bad, then?"