The Fallen Leaves

company of a novel, by her own fireside. With her feet on the tender, and her head on the soft cushion of her favourite easy-chair, she opened the book. Having read the first chapter a

y opened, and her maid appeared

e gentleman who comes from Mr. Golden

red the room, followed closely by a tall, calm, shabbily-dressed man, who laid a wiry yello

actually attempted to shake hands with her! Regina rose-and looked at him. It was a look that ought to have daunted the boldest man living; it produced no sort of effect on this man. He still

frigid bow, and addressed herself to the maid, wa

express the cordial sentiments proper to the occasion. "I have hear

something. "I have not heard Mr. Goldenheart mention yo

shes me-he does. We go ahead with most things in my country; and friendship's one of them. How do you find yourself? Won'

ned assistance in case of further f

dear. I sincerely desire to make the acquaintance of Miss

ith unconcealed approval. The maid appeared to be more to his taste than the mistress. "Well, that's a pretty creature, I do decla

his familiar question by pointing

once got down as low as that, I reckon I should have to restore the balance by putting

legant," he said. "The style of the Renaysance, as they call it." Regina observed with dismay that he had not got his hat in his ha

urable to that art. I delivered a lecture on photographic portraiture at Coolspring; and I described it briefly as justice without mercy.

s. He registered it, mentally, in case of need. "Amelius will soon get over

noticed him, and I can certify to that. I may also remark that he wants a deal

she thought to herself. "I must put this presuming man in his proper place." She dart

said Rufus,

have favoured me by calling here

It was not easy to stimulate his modest sense of what was fairly due to him into asserting itself, but the cold distrust, the deliberate distance of Regina's manner, exhausted the long-suffering indul

ny," he said. "Please to excuse me. I should have been welcome, in my country, with no better

what it was. A lady, short and stout, with strange wild sorrowful eyes, had noiselessly entered the room while he was speaking: she was waiting, as it seemed, unti

nd I am glad to see the friend of Amelius in my house." Before Rufus could answer, she turned to Regina. "I waited," she went on, "to give

fus; "I am not used to receiving strangers. And you did ask me some very strange questions," she added, with a sudden burst of self-assertion. "Strangers are not in the habit of saying such things in England." She looked at Mrs. Farnaby, listening with impenetrable composure, and stopped in confusion

Farnaby briefly remarked as th

n hit it off, ma'am, with most people," he said

hief-your handkerchief won't mop it up. I'll get a towel." She opened an inner door, which disclosed a little passage, and a bath-room beyond it. "I'm the strongest person in the house," she resumed, returning with a towel in her hand, as gravely as ever. "Sit still, and don't make apologies. If any of us can rub you dry, I'm the woman." She set to work with the towel, as if she had been Rufus's mother, making him presentable in the days of his boyhood. Giddy under t

eminds me, I do assure you, of home. Since I left New England, I've never met with the like of you. I do suppose now it was my hair that set Miss Regina

e of her American guest had already become the friendly and familiar tone which it had been her object to establish.

f your young friend?

is so,

that he has taken a

her likeness

hought you would come here, and see fo

y," Rufus

ot all his life before him. It would be a sad thing, if he married a girl who didn't make him happy." She turned in her chair, and pointed to the d

hesi

Farnaby proceeded. "You needn't be

universe. This woman had preserved him from ridicule

erstand the ladies in

was your son, and if he asked you to consent to his mar

Not if he went down on both hi

inion," she said, "exactly expressed! don't be surprised. Didn't I tell you

. "I reckon he's just abo

nheart honours us if he seeks our alliance; he is the representative of an old English family." Under these circumstances, it was quite possible that the proposals of Amelius had been accepted. Mr

ck to his lod

end on one thing-if I can help you, I will. I'm as fond of Amelius as you are. Ask him if I haven't done my best to keep him away from my niece. Ask him

oquent way. He was not allowed a hearing. With one and the same action,

e United States!" His admiration of Mrs. Farnaby's energy and resolution, expressed in these strong terms, acknowledged but one limi