Mary Gray

eeting; but it was not because of Sir Robin or anything he did: he was always a kind boy in her memory of him. It was because of his m

nne, who was easy and kindly with her servants, as a rule, but could reduce an insubordinate one to humble submission as well as any old lady ever could. But Mary, who knew the household pretty well by this time, knew that Jennings was out of temper by the set of his shoulders, as she surveyed them from her s

Rheumatic gout is a great humbler of the spirit. Ah! here comes one of those black monsters to make the pair curvet a little.

lthough once or twice the horses behaved

alighted in front of the great square, imposing house, amid its flower-beds of a

" Jennings said, with bitterness, "with th

rawing-room for Lady Drummond, she returned

said. "For all its grandeur it is not a hospitable house.

which were papered in deep red, were lined with full-length portraits, some of them equestrian. The place had an air

r than talking to Mary. "And those who are in her employment must think of them too, or t

d chosen to paint the sitter with his head uncovered. The upper part of the face-the forehead and eyes-was strikingly handsome. The sweep of golden hair, despite its close military cut, was beautiful also. For the rest, the n

awe, but would not have known how to express an opinion regarding his looks. Fortunately, Lady Anne

though I ought to have had sense, being ten years his senior and a widow. He picked the worst of the bunch. Luckily, he could get away from Matilda, for he was always fighting somewhere, and perhaps he never found out. He kept his simplicity to the day he died. Some people thought he married Matilda because she was one of the Stewart heiresses,

to her guests. Lady Anne tapped a

eone now-take my wo

rinkled up, shr

friends we go to visit? I don't trouble the Court much. But I am interested in Gerald's boy.

rshipping look with which she was gazing at Sir Gerald's portrait. The smile faded off into a sigh. "Ah, le beau temps passe!" The expression on Mary's face recalled to Lady Anne th

excuse m

e into Lady Anne's dream like a ha

ering the size of the gardens here and the labour I pay for, the yield is far too little. I expect the

wet summer,"

o is this y

he interests of Anne's relatives she had better be put under proper restraint. Still, she asked the question. One would have said from the deadly monotony of Lady Drumm

ening of herself for battle and a light in her eye which showed that she ha

nd stared at Mary through it. "The young lady is very young for the po

h me," Lady Anne said good-humoredly. "Well, Mar

ay is ve

ne asked. "I am sure she is longing to see the gardens.

nd your way

d of Mary, and made an effort at politenes

ary, looking round w

tomed to be disapproved of, and it filled her with a vague

shadow. As she went, Lady Drummo

at gawky child, all eyes and forehead. I remember

our excellent Brad

es. She had no curiosity to hear any more of Lad

her good. Then she felt contrite about Lady Anne. How good the old lady was to her, and how she stood up for her, would stand up for her, even to the terrible Lady Drummond! Still, it was n

iling. The heavy velvet curtains that draped the arched entrance by which she had come had fallen behind her. The silence i

h the book-shelves. The backs of them were dummy books. Mary did not know in the least how to discover the doors. In fact, she supp

o has strayed in and cannot find the way out. The elusive a

he saw light through the opening. A tall boy came in, whistling, and pulled

face as his eyes rested upon her. He came forward slowly, putting ou

de. I have sent it round to the stables and told the man to put up the h

and into the fran

elief. "I thought there were no doors. I was going to se

ful litter of Clumber spaniels. And I should like you to see my pony. I have just been out on him. It's a bit slow here, all alone, after so m

h from a red wall and gave it to her. They sat down together on a seat to eat their fruit. Gardeners and gardeners' assistants passing by touched their hats respectfully. It was, "Ye

rstand as a man does. Now, if you've finished your peach, Miss Gray, we'll go round to the stable yard and see the puppies. After that I'll show you the pony. His name's Ajax, and he's rath

was promised the pick of the litter if

the boy, confidently. "

puppy might

r basket, doesn't she? You might keep the puppy in the stables and take him for walks whenever

he puppy, who was licking her face energeti

him against what share of beauty he might have inherited from his father. There was something so exhilarating to Mary in the afternoon's experience, after its beginning so badly, that she forgot what had gone before. She thought Sir Robin a kind and delightful boy. They saw the Kerries,

wn by a pond in the shrubbery, where there was an islet with a water-hen's nest and a couple of swans sailing on

h a little start. "

. I'd no idea i

said we should be returning about five.

mbled in moments of agitation, as a slend

d out of the

t mind. She's a good sort. You should see the hampers she sends me. The mater doesn't approve

en space in front of the house. When they emerged

the young lady, Sir Robin," she said. "Lad

ne sat with an air of humorous patience on her face, but Lady Drummond's brow was thunderous. The ha

iss Gray, Robin," she heard th

No one could find those doors without knowing something about them.

ne said, standing up. "You and Robin

the coachman to have his tea

ady Drummond said. "They are too fat; they can't

easy," Lady Anne said, laughing; "t

ck as thunder in the drawing-room. Sir

ogetically. "It was my fault. I hope

considered, my dear boy," answered Lady

u're too good to me, you know, you really are." Lady Anne had pressed something into his palm. "The mater doesn't see what boys wan

ving him bare-headed on the

nnings' back that he's had a good tea. He'll be a good son, but the time will come when he'll choose for himself. Well, Mary, I hope you've enjoyed

with her-that was very obvious. She seemed to be enjoying herself, too, judging by the smile tha

erald Drummond's elder brother, said of her Ladyship. Ah, poor Denis! He'd face a charge of the guns more readily t