e Kye C

I think I have shown her that I am determined, and she seems inclined to be dutiful. Poor dear girl, I am very sorry for her. There is no doubt she has taken a fancy to this handsome you

nto the front parlour, and there he found his sister making tea. She looked

ed. "She is going to stay upstairs; I

answered he, "and that happens so seldom,

ing serious, brother,

wker here. And she seems to have taken a sort of fancy to his society, whic

u had determined, for some reason which I was not master of, that she should look on M

he was sitting down to dinner, he sent up for her. She sent him for an answer,

g, he said to himself, was to be expected. She would get over it in time. He hoped that the poor girl would not neglect h

She thought it strange too that her father should be so different from his usual self, and this made her uneasy. One thing she was determined on, not to give up her lover, come what would. So

and listen entirely unedified to a long discourse, proving, beyond power of contradiction, that it was the duty of every young Englishwoman to be guided entirely by her parents in the choice of a partner for life. A

e hopes of her family and well-wishers by marrying a gouty marquis of sixty-three, with fifty thousand a-year. On this occasion, Mary struck the old lady dumb -"knocked her cold," our American cousins would say - by announcing t

ined the front gate unperceived from the windows; but ere she reached

ng face made ample atonement for want of beauty. He was dressed in knee-breeches, and a great blue coat, with brass buttons, too large even for him, was topped by a broad-brimmed beaver hat, with fur on it

st out." His laughter seemed to begin internally and silently, till, after one or two rounds, it shook the vast fabric of his chest beyo

you? Now, don't stand laughing there like a great gaby, but com

o pretty standing there in the shade, that I would break any man's neck who didn't applaud. Shake hands, says y

rithed herself free. "I'll never come with

Rather more violent than usual at finding my

u been then, T

n, to be sure.

or you'll catch it.

Stockbridge a

are gone?"

the last friend they'll

idge look? Was h

n I was. Mary, my girl,

d. "Why, because he was a gaby, and you're another; and I

ed you? Pooh! pooh! I know better than that, you kn

"I say Tom dear, don't say you saw me. I am going

f mystery, admiration, wonder, and acquiescenc

us with the full rich notes of the thrush, till she saw down the long vista, grow

d, being less fertile, was far more densely wooded than any of the red country. The hills were very abrupt, and the fields but sparely scattered among the forest land. The stream itself, where it cro

s if she had come to her journey's end. For leaning on the rail she began lo

ady. How pleasant to see the broad red moon go up behind the feathery branches, and listen to the evensong of the thrush, just departing to roost, and leaving the field clear for the woodlark al

which she had come; and soon a horseman comes in sight, coming quickly down the hill. When he s

lovers have such intelligence as this. It were better they should meet in your parlour, under y

ossible you might come out to-night. Come down off the bridge

dge. He took her in his arms and kissed her. "Now, my Poll,"

" she answered. "You and m

as got some nonsense into his head, and he told me when I met h

e something very shocking to change h

did; and he has been racking his brains to find out something against me. That rascally German doctor has

orge. I don't think he

is under the thumb of that doctor; and yo

Dr. Mulhaus should

te with him, has poisoned his mind, and all because he wanted yo

he is gone, at all events; but you must tell me

tell you it is again

ps, you ought not to tell it; but you ought to have n

ll tell you then: you k

have s

wife, though they ain't married; and the Vicar must have known that

t my father. He never knew it till now I am certain; and of course, you kn

th virtuous indignation, "that I would have thought of ta

I believ

o, I needn't ask it, you wouldn't have come her

lied; "I am afraid I oughtn't to come out here a

pair of lovers a night perhaps - no, meet me up in the croft of a night. I am often in at Gosford's of an evening, and I can see your window from the

less I have something very particular to say. Then, indeed, I migh

ff without hearing my defence, dear Mary, I know you won't. Let me hear what lies they tell of me, and don't you condemn me unheard becaus

er waist, and his handsome face bent over her, lit up with what she took to be love. Not she, at

die if I lost you. I will stay by you through evil report

the trashy novels she was always reading - they were true enough for all that. George saw that they

"that your father should stay in hi

!" sh

e always content with meeting here and ther

she said in a whispe

er that?" he sa

answer. You t

ar. "Fly, and get marri

e replied. "Oh, George, I shou

ing, when the time comes.

homeward through the dark. But she did not ru

nate, here was a way out of the difficulty. He would be angry at first, but when he found he could not help himself he would come round, and then they would all be happy. She would shut her ears to anything they said against George. She could not believe it. She would not. He should be her husband, come what might. She would dissemble, and keep her father's suspi

the parlour. There was evidently company, and in her present excited state nothing would suit her bet

evening-star has arisen at last. My dear young lady, we

ed. "They were certainly loud, and from the frequent bursts of

together. Troubridge and the Doctor were side by side, while next the fire was Mrs. Bu

d began talking to her. Then the conversation flowed back

r packs into two. Then you would have less squabbling and bickering about the dif

next, and that is to be considered; and about half the quantity of meat and horseflesh would be

he Doctor. "I hope they'll be comfortable. They should have got more am

more heart-sick than stomach-sick, I expec

e morning, and told him what had passed the night before, so Mrs. Buckley had come in to cheer Mary up for the loss of her lover, and to her surprise found her rather more merry than usual. This made the good lady suspect at once that Mary did not treat th

ather, and I am sure you will always, under all circums

, but Tom Troubridge sat still before the fire, and as she came in was just finish

hough you look better to-night. Your dear aunt has been to Tom's

forgot you; at least, quite forgot you were going to

me. If I remember right, we met last out at

plied; "you're big enough. Well

moonlight, wondering. Wondering what George was doing. Wondering whether she would listen to his aud