Year: 1878

II peg your pardon, Miss Dayrell, " he an
swered, taking up the song. Il am very
much obliged to you, really, but am tired
and stupid tonight I must 60 home early"


"You had better stay and sleep here
then," she said quickly; but he shook his
head.


"No, thank you. A walk through the
cool night-air will refresh me-"


eyes; it is lovely night. Some OF us
might walk part of the way back with him !;
shall we, Captain Lee, if Lady Temple will
Gomez -


Delightful, think" returned Tom, his
face beaming at being appealed to by his
idol, and hoping he might get her to him.
self part of the way.


Geoffrey turned away in silence. He
would have preferred solitary walk, and
was cherishing secret hope that Mrs; Elton
might be in her garden, but ne could say
nothing in opposition, especially as ne sa"
Captain Lees delight, and the whole party
started to walk with him. He tried to avoid
walking with Eva but hers was not ma
ture to be baked in wish, and it seemed
too good an opportunity OF resainlng her
old influence over him to be lost. In spite
of his efforts to avoid it, he found himself
walking behind with her; and then, when
the rest Of the party were out OF hearing
she put her hand on his arm and, looking
up into his face, exclaimed: r....


"Tell me what is the matter, Mr. Chet-
WIND. How have offended your ..'
She locke very handsome in the moon
LIGHT, a scarlet shawl thrown cNrolessly over
her white dress and her dark haiY uncovered.


Geotfrey smiled his pleasant smile as he
looked down ut her -8I


Indeed, Hiss Dayrcll, you have not of.
Tended me in any way" he answered. 81
must be getting very beiuish for you to have
adopted such a notion; but my manners
have got rusty during lay seclusion. hope
we shall always be great friends"


There was the slightest possible emphasis
OF the last word, or Eva fanciod there was,
and she suddenly drew back her hand.


81 do not think it can be good for you to
lead such an utterly solitary life as you have
been leading" she said. "Wby will you
not come to Newland Abbey?


''Because I would rather be where am.
I came here for quietness and rest, and to
have that must be at Sandbeach and not
at Newland Abbey


"The truth, but not the whole truth" was
her cold comment. "Unless | am much
mistaken, Mr.. Chetwynd, the day will come
when you will regret not having taken the
advice of friend; but see it is useless to
say any more Adelaide, don't you think
we ought to turn back2 You will overture
yourself"


Lady Temple stopped, and they all wished
Godfrey good night, Eva barely touching
his proffered hand. lie was not sorry that
they had left him before he reached the cot
tage, but he felt puzzled and annoyed by
Miss Dayrelps manner. Was Tom Lee
right, and was she jealous of his ill-con.
cealed admiration of the lovely stranger
He was too utterly free from vanity to credit
such thing, so he set it down to real
friendliness and anxiety about him. Yet
why should she take it for granted that 1t
would be such terrible disaster ii he were
to fall in love with Mrs. Elton? Why
should women always fancy there was some
thing wrong where there any mystery!
But he knew, as he said the words, that the
world, and not women only, held this
opinion and it was generally right.


There was no singing on this night in the
cottage, and, though he fingered for some
minutes before the garden, he saw nothing
Of its owner.


'tIt is better so perhaps" he muttcred as
he walked on; II am Just in the mood TO
make donkey Of myself irretrieviably if l
met those grave, sweet eyes. L wonder
what her Christian name is? I'll ask Cecil
when I next get him alone. l hope it is
pretty one.'