Year: 1870

Rupert laughed.


No, Miss Turner, hardly that
But l did not expect you to treat me
as an utter stranger"


Not as a stranger; but still there
is difference; you see-There, it il
your turn to play


What difference, Miss Turner
Rupert asked, as he came back tC
her side again


Dear meP the girl said half pet.
tishly; 'one would think that it was
an unwilling witness you we're cross
examining, Mr.. Holmes. A good
deal of diference-all the difference
in the world. Before, you were a
stranger, l might never see you
again. Mamma was there to do
proprieties; and of course l was able
to laugh and ak with you as I
chose. Don't you know it is a we'll
known fact, that people alwas do get
much more intimate-Well, yes, flirt
more, if you ike-away from home
than they do in their own neighbor-
hood? When people are never 60
ing to meet again Of course they
need not be quite so stiff and par
ticular as at other times. l have
been angry with myself ever since
for having talked so much. Yes,
you may smile, Mr.. Holmes, but
really have


The girl was so evidently in ear
nest that Rupert forbore to point
out the weak part Of her defence
the fact that she had found out at
Reigate that he was going to stay
with the Wilmots-and only said
quietly:


4 see what you mean, Miss Turner.
Yes, l suppose there Is some sort of
difference; but 1 do not see why you
should be angry with yourself. We
certainly talked a good deal-that
is, 1 talked good deal; but our
conversation could not, even by the
most illnatured, be called a. firta-
ton, and your mamma was by your
side. To me it was the most pleas
ant journey l ever made


Yes, it was a very pleasant jour
ney,' she said frankly, and we knew,
you see, who you were; that is, that
you were going to stay here, which
served as q sort of introduction
Rupert could not resist a slight
smile at this bad attempt at self-ius
tification, which entirely contradic-
ted the former plea set up, and Miss
Turner at once reading his thoughts
colored slightly and said:


Here. Mr.. Holmes, it's your turn
again, they are looking quite cross
at US for not attending. We really
must pay attention to the game.


From this period the girl gave
Rupert no opportunities of renewing
the conversation, but entered con
an9ore into the game, croquetine
him, he thought, with extra spite
over and over again, and finally win.
ming the game for her side most
triumphantly. After this she said
she would not play any more at
present, and Rupert also giving uI
his mallet, volunteered to assist hel
to find Mrs. Turner; apursuit, how.
ever, which was not carried on long
for in a few minutes they took 9
seat and looked on at the othel
players.


That evening Rupert came to tht
conclusion that Amy Turner was thu
incest girl he had ever met, and thai
this time he was really seriously il
for it. The croquet-party was &C
knowledged to be a great success
and as in the country people gener.
ally contrive to compress their years
amusements into the very smallest
space, a constant succession of Gro
quet and archery meetings and pic
MICS followed, and Rupert met Amy
Turner nearly every day. By the
end of a f,rtnight he was thorough
ly convinced of the justice of th'
conclusion he had formed, and was
resolved that he would take the ear
liest possible opportunity of bring
ing matters to crisis. He thought
he felt almost sure, that she cared
for him; she was more quiet and shy
now than she had been at first, and
her color went and came when he
talked to her. Yes, he felt sure that
she loved him.


At the end of a fortnight large
ball was to be given in the neighbor-
mood, and he hoped that he should
then find an opportunity. The room
was almost full that evening before
the Turner'S arrived, and Rupert haC
just stood up for a quadrille, anC
was unable to go near Amy for somt
little time. He observed that plaiE
quiet-looking man OF three or foul
and forty years old at once went VI
to her, took her from Mrs. Turner;
arm, and stood up with her in the
quadrille. While the dance wen
on they talked together earnestly
and confidentially, and when it wa,
over continued walking round the
room. As soon as Rupert could gel
free he went and found that her card
was already full for the next five OF
six dances. He put down his name
and retired after a few words, and
Amy continued promenading with
her partner. Rupert took up his
place at the doorway, round which
several men were standing talking.
1t seemed that they were watching
Amy and her partner for Rupert
heard her name mentioned.


1T is quite true, one said; though
it is hard to believe. The idea OF
pretty Miss Turner marrying Gals
ford seems too absurd; but there's
no doubt about it. l heard him
mention it himself.'


There is nothing very wonderful
about it, another said. The usual
rule-beauty against gold. She is
an arraDt tlirt. But it is quite true
Gaisford's sister, Mrs. Standish, TOLD
me. 1t seems it was arranged al
ICheltenham three months ago. The
Turner's were stopping with an uncle
or something there, and GaisfOro
happened to be there too, and oi
course they came together, and the
matter was soon settled. 1t was not
to be mentioned to I soul, because
Gaisford had only been a widower
nine months. So he stayed away
till the year was up. There is no
..,,-A =, Go.,f - now and fhaRr nrp tn