The Heather-Moon

t she lay awake until long after midnight, an unprecedented thing for

erfectly new day which no one else had ever seen yet. This morning it was a repeated knocking at the door which mingled with her dreams and s

ard House. "Madam and the two gentlemen are having breakfast out of doors in the summer-house; and w

t to have her called. But, from Aline's point of view, there was no mistake. "I have let the child sleep," she explained to Somerl

ine was not pleased that Somerled had thought it necessary to get information on his own account. She would have preferred that he should trust to her; but she tried to think that perhaps he too was secretly tired of the girl and wanted to be rid of her. While he was glancing through the first paper, Moore glided into the summer-house with a brick-coloured envelope

Men were capable of anything. The troublesome creature must really go back to her grandmother at once. Mrs. Bal could easily come to Carlisle and collect her-like l

he inquired calmly, looking up from

and then said, "No. It's not what

thought that she had turned pale. "No bad

"I was stupid to let Moore go-I must send an answer. Mr. Somerled, it wo

I--" beg

e or four minutes, and not one of those minutes ought to be wasted. "Don't bother with questions," she said to Basil, "but if you love me, make those theatrical papers disappear before Mr. Somerled ca

long in finding the forms, because men never could find the simplest things when told to look for them; but Somerled was an exception, and she only just caught him on the threshold. "After all, I want your advice instead of Basil's," she said. "Do sit here where we shall be quiet, and let me consult you." She patted the arm of a big chin

ous, and disliked malice and all uncharitableness as she disliked smearing her pink and white fingers with ink. Still, no alternative idea occurred to her, and Somerled was waiting. In desperation she had to take what offered, excusing herself to herself with every word she spoke. Yet through all she could not

unfledged youth. "I was surprised at not hearing, but this wire is an answer to my letter. The old lady goes into no particulars, but she says: 'Gravest reasons why my granddaughter

ily. She felt that if he did not stop jingling and begin to speak she should scream. If he asked to see the telegram, she was prepared to say that she had torn it up, as an excuse not to show it

d herself to murmur,

I can't do it unless she agrees. I promised not even to advise her

er had her voice been so kind and sweet. Indeed, in her trembli

rom what Miss MacDonald's told us, it's natural her grandmother should think there are grave objections to Mrs. Bal as a guardian; but the old lady's two gene

en in America-or Australia,"

nburgh!" cried a voice at the long window

ummer-house and beguiled Basil. Aline knew too well what excuse he would m

ing permission. "She's going to 'open,' as the paper expresses it, in a new play called 'The Nelly Affair,' on Mo

randma. He got up from the sofa, still jingling the money in his pockets. Looking down at Aline he saw only her profile and an ear as deeply pink as coral under a lo

k over a plan I have for

-or hers?" asked

me you hear it," he answer

little girl, till the plan is cooked,"

s if she had been half smoth

ss my plan?

red. She could not have

ake her with us in the car to

rophe. "That poor old lady," she stammered. "I can't help sympathizing-being a li

eflectively, "that she

, I

ll go and have it o

" she faltered, "perhaps it would bring about complications. She might resort to

id nothing. He was not

thought. "Thank Hea

led as a rule; but his