Hetty Wesley

d willows, with here and there an alder, marked the course of its left bank. But where Hetty waited

and watching her from a wintry willow bough; the only moving object a windmill half a mile away acr

erstood, before the cutting of figures had been advanced to an art with rules and text-books. But as the poise and balanced impetus came natural to her, so in idle moments and casually she had struck out figures of her own

letter he had ridden over to Kelstein with the proposal. Patty was the one chosen (Hetty could guess why), and poor Patty knew nothing of it at the time: but Mrs. Grantham had accepted almost effusively, and she was to come. In what capacity? Hetty wondered. She herself taught the children, and she could think of no other post in the household not absolutely menial. Was it sel

d a young man descended, as it were, out of the sun's disc and came flying down the long alley on its ray. She put out both hands. He sw

et

worth ten of him. But to her he is a young god above whom the stars dance. Splendid creature though she be, she must comply with her sex which commands her to be passive, to be loved. With his arm about her

ve ra

ained for that. We h

w l

st. Father and Patty will be arriving before supp

anal, then. I have

they were swinging forward in perfect rhythm, each onrush held long and level on the outside edge and curving only as it slackened. The

ate div

th. Now her lungs opened, the cord snapped and broke with a sob; and, as the sun's rim dipped, she flew faster, urgent to overtake and hold it there, to stay its red glint between the reed-beds, its bloom of brown and purple on the withered grasses. The wind of her skirt caught up the dead leaves freshl

ie and nodded upwards instead. He saw and understood, and with their faces raised to it they held on their

A woman's voice joined in scolding. This broke the spell; and with a laugh they disengaged hands, separat

On its deck a woman, with arms akimbo, stood over a man sea

ou waiting, sir-

oked at

seems to have missed fire. I had planned a small picnic here a

ord knows 'tisn' his way to be thoughtful, and when he tries it there's always a breakage. When I'd melted the ice, the thing began to leak like a s

the warm blood had run back from her face: for he was the man w

g, missy! If I'd known the job was for Miss Wesley, I'd

ow this fellow?"

r debtors be so backward-hey, miss? Why, to be sure I know Miss Wesley: a man don't forget a face like hers in a hurry. Glad to meet her, lik

r ruffling and lai

never one to spoil sport: but some has luck in this world and some h

ace out of this, I'll smash it for

hail-fellow with the boxing-men on the platform. And a buck you was too, with a girl on each arm; and might pass, that far from home, for one of the gentry, the way you stood treat. But you're not: a

h here ran within two furlongs of the high road, an

barge and who now shook her feet free of Johnny Whitelamb's rough clamps, and

open palm dealt him a stingi

a dazed face, and then without a word ran for t

den. Even in her wrath Hetty looked

he. "Half a mile will give me lead enough to slip

nnot see the road or what direction he takes. Let him be, dear," Hetty persuaded, as th

et fumed, she su

uth he was

?" he

out Linc

ar, there was something in it, to be sure. Y

ant what he said about-about

ted she helped him by adding, "I am not a child, dear. I am twen

ad an instinct for

lie and rejected it f

ou," he said humbly. "

rather you knew the t

. It seems to make our-ou

ard nothing of the scrimmage on the bank, so swi

nd after all he was low company for the likes of you, though any company comes well to folks that ca

upon the high roa

aps, if all company

it gives me, to have you two here a-lovering, nor how many questions I'd put if you'd let me. When is it to be, my dear?"-addressing Hetty-"But you won't answer me, I know. You're wishing me farther, and go I will as soon as you'v

ll cabin-door. "La, the red you've gone! I can see it with no help more than the bit of moon. 'Tis

owards Kelstein. Had Hetty known, her father was the horseman, with Patty riding pillion behind

y sprang up. "Time t

forgiven me,

ravely as she put an illusion by. "To be loved is marvellous and seems to make al

ce at her feet and began to fasten her skates. "Let me st

n I think of father. While he forbids us, I cannot help doubting at times: and then I look into myself and see that all the world is brighter, all the world is bette

g up into eyes divinely dewy. "I am yours t

as he took her in his arms, she held back, her palms against his shoulders, her eyes

like a swallow let loose from his hand. So swift was her flight that, all unknowing, she overtook and passed the travellers jogging parallel

where Mr. Wesley and his daughter awaited her, and observing that the girl seemed frightened or d

ng; went at once to her father and kissed him, and runni

ned Mr. Wesley. "I protest it se

with an arm about her sister's waist and a glance

m persuading your father to sup with us. I have given them a room together

ndness itse

any at Wroote or Epworth. The housemaid, who adored Hetty, had even lit a fire in the grate. Two beds with white coverlets, coarse but exquisitely clean, stood side by side-"Though we won't u

of her hat, tossed it on to the edg

as dead!" s