Wych Hazel

tself over the forest trees; floating up to the Mountain House, and hanging about the rocks. But overhead the sky

strangers to the Mountain House within its walls; perhaps the morning was too chill; perhaps all of the 'candidates' were on the other side; for she sat alone. Until the flaming torch of Sirius paled, until the dawn began to shimmer and gleam among the fleeces of mist,-until they parted here and there before the arrows of ligh

une, Miss Hazel, as you fi

ood morning, Mr. Falkir

ge of your

r arms crossed over her bosom and a grave look of thought settling down upon her you

untain-top,' she said musingly; 'but mine looks misty eno

e down in

the mist; and the broken clouds began to roll away in golden vapour, or were

ver told me!' said an oldish lady. 'And there

d the house. Mr. Falkirk, as in duty bound, followed, but when a needful point of view was attained, his charge was no

ty hall, pacing up and down from door to door, then went to see if Wych Hazel were by chance in her room. Mrs. Saddler was in consternation, having heard no

morn

morn

fore breakfa

r. Falkirk; 'but yo

can't be early. You

th you, if you

Falkirk, shortly. 'I have no

ttle while ago, when

nnedy is well,

ope

not do

nd I have not heard o

him over yards of the rough way at a bound, and cleared obstacles that would have hindered, at least slightly, most other people. The mountain was quickly won in this style, and Rollo gained a high ledge where the ground lay more level. He went deliberately here, and used a pair of eyes as quick as might match the feet, though not to notice how the dew sparkled on the moss or how the colours changed in the valley. He was far above the Mountain House, on the wild hillside. The sun had scattered the fog from the lower country, which lay a wide dreamla

ufficiently bewildering even to his practised eyes. Partridges whirred away from before him, squirrels chattered over his head, but his particular quarry M

lar; the hair of invisible brown lay in very wayward silky curls; and the eyes, as soon could be seen, were to match, both as to colour and waywardness. The mouth was a very woman's mouth, though the girlish arch lines had hardly yet learned their own powers whether of feeling or persuasion. Very womanish, too, was the sweep of the arm outline, and the hand and foot were dainty in

the eyes went down again, nor in the quick skill with which the scarf was caught up and flung round her,

for arousing me. Is

go back without some refreshment?' The words and the speake

ick motion across the moss. He met her on the other side of a big bo

don-but if you

ugh, glancing up at the sun; 'I kno

de you this way,' he said; 'but

at the sun. 'Wh

you care most for speed or

abortive attempt at a frown. What righ

e way, sir-the shortest; I m

'The direction is not to be followed in a straight line,' said

home the shortest way,

oth hands were needed to swing her over a watercourse or leap her down from a rock. She was agile and light of foot; she did what woman could; it was only by sheer necessity that she yielded the mortifying tacit confession to man's superior strength, and gave so often opportunity to a pair of good eyes to see what she was like near at hand. Wych Hazel's own eyes made few discoveries. She could feel every now and then that her conductor's hand and foot were as firm and reliable as the mountain itself. This course of tra

ng. 'Really! Rollo my dear fellow

tion after lunch, wi

extraordinary!' sai

o, waiting upon the las

ear lady!' said Mr.

e and pistols with M

for-eh, Dane? Go ge

ters gently to

o that, my

ou dou

his face. 'Mr. Falkirk is going off toward the cataract-just run aft

first bearer of welcome news'-And Mr. Falkirk roaming amon

r friend Rollo has with his usual sagacity gone straight to the mark, and without a moment

me, then?' sa

ryland,-son of your friend at Chickaree. Only your neighbour upon Christian principles here, sir, b

Mr. Falkirk. He was a well looking young man, with a clear blue eye which said the world's sophistications would find no Parley the porter to ad

not indeed forget to despatch a peremptory order for breakfast; but as that refreshment was somewhat delayed, the young lady in an impatient fit of time-saving began to change her dress, and fainted

, Miss Hazel opened her eyes for his express benefit, the doctor stopped short in the middle of the room, his ideas more unsettled than ever. But Mr.

s it you? What

ike somebody

point of view it was not perhaps needful that he should hold the coffee-cup himself all the time, but if this were not really his 'first case,' it bid fair to be so marked in his memory. Perhaps he forgot the c

of my great predecess

hat l

nemy, sir, and being

azel, innocently

id Mr. Falk

places favoured by such outlaws. Don't y

pause of s

s not nice for little girls to make themselves so c

brought the blood to her

found me. And if you think I lost myself in the fog on purpo

h did look certainly as if it had belonged to a little girl not very long ago

recommend the hottest omelet and bring the freshest cakes to her hand? The young heiress, the young mistress of fabulous acres, and 'such a beautiful old place;' the new beauty, who bid fair to bewitch all the world with hand and foot and gypsy eyes,-nay, the current all set one way. Even old dowagers looked to praise, and even their daughters to admire; while of the men, all were at her feet. Attentions, civil, kind, and recommendatory, showered on Miss Hazel from all sides. Would that little head st

lady, an old acquaintance of Mr. Falkirk's, one even

was standi

guardian,' the lad

had a moth

husb

t; then he said, 'It

ch Hazel's curls,-'but what will she do? Somebody will deceive

her,' said Mr. Falki

lay on the grass in the shade with a book-or he found out for himself some delectable place or pleasure unknown previously to others, though as soon as known sure to be approved and adopted; and at evening the rich scents of his cigar floated in the air where the moonlight lay brightest or shadows played daintiest. But he did not seem to share the universal attraction towards the daintiest thing of all at the Mountain. He saw her, certainly; he was sometimes seen looking at her; but then he would leave the place where her presence held everybody, and the p

Maryland's shy, distant homage was more comical yet; and the tender little mouth began to find out its lines and dimples and power of concealment. But the young heart had a good share of timidity, and that stirred very often; making the colour flit to and fro 'like the rosy light upon the sky'- Mr. Kingsland originally observed; while Dr. Maryland looked at the evening star and was silent. Compliments!-how they rained down u