The Hoyden

om, where some dancing is going on. His face is a little white, but beyond that he betrays no emotion whatever. He feels even surpr

the next. Yes; he can have it. She dances like a little fairy, and when the waltz is at a

to laugh when she laughed, to listen to her nonsense. As he walks with her towards the flowers, he tells himsel

over! it is

better. She has fo

at the end of that is another and larger conservatory, connected with the drawing-room.

t to dance

of flowers, seems very mu

tired. It is bad for you to fatigue yourself so much. You have had

hile," says s

she takes every step that leads

e flowering shrubs, adds a delicious sense of coolness to the air. The delicate perfume of heliotrope mingles with the breath of the roses, yellow and

pressing her gently into a deep lounging chair that seems to s

to wonder if he might have a cigarette. He might almost have believ

ays Tita, glancing ro

ds me of

kde

she softly-"where I

ing of your life,"

. He has, indeed, but one idea, and that is to encourage her

very happy at Oakdean, when," hesitating, "papa was alive; but now I hav

matter wit

se, too, but I hate it; it is so gloomy. I'm sure," with a shrug of her shoulders, "Unc

s to make a poor s

without reservation. "He's a be

s Rylton, rou

tle amused, and somewhat surprised. She seems

People say a lot about family resemblances, but it seems wicked to think Un

changeling," s

elieve it! he drowned every one of them-said they were ill-bred, or something. And they weren't, they couldn't have been; they were perfectly beautiful, and my darling Scrub fretted herself nearly to death after

men pride themselves on the pedigree o

efend him!" says she, risi

ng could excuse his refusing you that one pupp

e won't let me

et you co

traight at him. "My uncle is ashamed because we are nobodies-because his father earned his

own your father," says Rylton, ad

ly. She pauses, as if still thinking, and then, "As f

ys Rylton. "Crime sits

but presently she stops

ys she ruefully. "You have not to go home

oralizing me! But, surely, if you cannot live in peace with him, ther

o relations-at least, none who could look after me; and, for another,

ve me! I should not have laughed," says he, "espe

subdued lights of those pink

; I've heard of people who were married at sixteen! But they must have been fools. No? I don't want to be married,

, rather abominably,

confusedly. "I hav

't," says

ith my uncle. No; I can't." She leans back, and, flinging her arms behind her neck, looks

w far removed from worldly considerations! His affair with Marian is at an end. Never

e would please his mother, and restore the old name to something of i

over. It is

easing voice

faith. She shall know all. Probably she will refuse him. For one thing, because he is ten years older than she is-a century in the eyes of a child o

ll be all fair and above-board between them. He can give her a titl

In all probability she will say "No" to it. But if not-if

ld do," says he, "would be to ma

says

ems su

hen, with whom you

d do a great deal more than that to get away from

that Rylton's heart grows cold within

her religiously, "would you marry

love w

in love, but who a

wouldn't want to marry me," says Tita.

eliberately. He leans for

t, he will throw up the remnant of his life here and go abroad. And, at all events, he can so f

ou!" sa

ares a

ou to marry him for any reason less than love; but I-I

ked at his own words

asks the

deep inquiry and wonder

stly. "Your money could redeem this old place, and

tfully. There is silence for awhile, and then-"I should be a

l things should be allowed her at this juncture,

up at him. "You could

ou!" say

himself, but the gir

nothing," says she

hortly with all the rest. For myself, I don't care much really, but my

elp you!" says Tita

tress upon t

you trust yo

t mys

before you. I am not in love with you, and I have n

ays Tita. "I," patheti

t she had set great st

ally. But you say t

will help me

Tita, with some haste. And then in a

cert

er air is so na?ve that Rylton bursts out laughing. After all, the la

father's death. "You shall command me in this matter; I shall live at Oakdean if that is your desire."

past delights in which he has had no part. "To live there again!" She sighs quickly, excitedly. "You haven't seen it, you don't know," says she. "Bu

returns he. Indeed, to him it is now a matter of indifference where life may b

blessing I came here! Fancy getting rid of Uncle George and getting back to Oakdean all in one stroke!"

wn, and regards her with some anxiety-"have you thought it all out? I have t

ate you if you were in love with me. Fancy a person following me about always, and saying silly things to me, and perh

s this startling question, tha

n't k

w, and at once," says Mi

core. To marry a girl who even objected to a kiss! It sounds like a French play. He subdues his untimely mirth by an effort, and says gravely, "How can I pr

had struck her. "Well, let it stay so," says she. "If ever I do grow

bargain,

augh. It seems to him that she is

, with quite a polite air,

ght with much energy. She tilts the shoulder nearest to h

an embryo flirt of the first water? Whatever she is, at all events, s

no?" que

ds her

e said 'Yes' to

d again. She nod

ll marry yo

tell my

ittle troubled expressio

ll be mad. She won't let you marry

her declaration makes it the more shocking. And how does she kno

e to me. I don't blame her. I'm sure I'm often horrid. I

pa

at w

our c

cous

love her,

ly as pale as death. "What do yo

a. "I think Miss Knollys is the

voluntarily. The relief is so great th

ays Tita. "Who did

en now I am surprised. Margaret, though very

ou lov

es, I

at him quickly-"I have been thinking that"-nervously-"that when I marry you, Miss Knollys will be my cousin, to

e. He has barely yet recovered from t

the first question. "Do you think she will

open arms." He feels as if he were lying when he says this, yet is

ike it," says Tita, "not some

of the conservatory that will lead her to t

other," says he gentl

her whole young, gene

ll! I shal

re and there are groups in twos or threes-the twos are most popular. Just as they come to t

e trembling. For the first time the solemnity of this ma

says Rylto

But you--" She hesitates, looking at him always. Her gaze is intense. He

" says he. "Don't mistrust me

nd of me. I'm-you don't know it-nobody knows it-but I'm often

or ever." He is touched to his very heart by her words and her small face. He stoops over her

I know I shall be happy with you." She is evidently comparing him most favourably

me God!" says Ryl

th of allegiance-kind

abjuration of all his