The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-10

I forgot my duties as hostess so com pletely.'
 We thought it very natural.' said Sir Miles, looking at Vernon as ne shook hands. as if he honestly felt that she might be held valid excuse for much absence of mind. Selma, as usual, put his thought into words.
 "You see," she said to Vernon, T thought you looked the right sort. I said to Miles. after we had gone T believe that girls fiyer!' I asked lem if you weren's, and he said he didn't know. He said it was early days yet-you know what an old stick-in-the-mud lem is."
 ''Selma!'-from her brother.
 'He is, Miles; I believe you said so yourself. He is so cautious and so close, but I determined to come and see you again, because there isn't a decent girl round here for miles and miles,
 Selma"
 Well, Miss wiimot knows what I mean. I mean a girl of any sort, with any go in her. So I made Miles come again today, though he said it was not manners. But fortunately he wanted to come himself, because Jem knows all there is to know about COWS. and Miles is getting to be such a farmer, he will soon call turnips 'turmuts, and talk about they steers'.''
 'I feel immensely fiattered, you know, to be called a flyer" said Yer non. Tt is not what I expected. Yankee, or Wild Colonial, or at the best, Country Cousin, was the sum- init of my ambition
 "Oh rot" said Selma, anybody could see that you were the real thing. And I am the first person who saw you, so I think we ought to have first innings, don't you?''
 "I cannot control her." Sir Miles was explaining to Mrs. Bardsley. II shall be obliged to say that she pays no visits with me on horseback, but only when Miss Frampton, her gov erness, can accompany her. Oh, I don't mind when she is here with you-I mean I don't so much mind. But there are houses where such talk as this would never do." Don't be silly, Miles, said Selma "You know quite we'll that in houses like that I am as good as gold. At Mardrum for instance. The five Miss Lesters and their father, Colonel Lester. The youngest of them is thirty mine, and they read a great deal of solid literature, and travel every year, and talk to you about foreign picture-galleries and the hotels in Vienna. I'm as glum as Jem when we go to call on them." A good thing too," said Jem calm ly. "Aunt Emma, will you have some more tea?"
 My dear, no; we had what you might call a tea of three courses at Mrs. Trent's," replied Mrs. Bardsley. II have just been there," she ex- plained, with my niece, to thank Mrs. Trent for befriending her when she came to her house near mid- night, having lost her way" "Oh, do tell us the whole story" pleaded Selma. "You know Miles marched me off without hearing it. the other day.'
 'sThere is not much story in it, :" said Vernon. 'I acted like a. perfect idiot, starting to walk miles of lone ing where was going. And it came on bad storm and I lost my way. And Mrs. Trent was sitting up for her husband, and I saw the light, so I was a tramp, but when she found I was coming to Carronlea she was very kind, and fed me, and put me to bed and lent me dry clothes Come then, she must be good sort" said Sir Miles, in his grave, deliberate way. -I feel rather sorry for her, don't you know, married to such a fellow as Trent. You go
 there good bit, don't you?" he ask ed simply, of Jem.
 "No, I don't" replied Jem, looking
 carefully at the carpet, where Selma
 had let fall crumbs which he was picking up and ranging upon her lap
 to her mock disgust.
 1 "It is very difficult to know what 1 line to take" said Mrs. Bardsley,
 knitting her brows. "Jem, of course, has a good deal to do with Trent,
 who rents some of our grazing ground. In return for this kindness of theirs to Vernon, I have felt
 bound to ask them to dine next | week.
 Are they coming?" asked Jem. "Oh yes. The question is-how ] can I ask any one to meet them ?" Look here" said Sir Miles firmly. setting down his cup. "Is there any
 reason-does anybody know of any
 reason, except Mrs. Trent's appear
 ance, why the poor thing should be
 sent to Coventry? Because if not,
 why not call upon her, and take