The Dull Miss Archinard

in the musing, impersonal mood of fisherman reverie, no definite thought forming from the appreciative impressions of sunlit meadows, cool stretches of sh

umstances, an intimately pleasant thing, and although, where Odd stood at a wide curve of water, a line of hedge and tall beech-trees sloping down to the river marked the confines of his property just here, the woods and meadows before him were all his-to the blue hills on the sky almost, the park behind him stretched widely about Allersley Manor, and to the left the river ran for a very respectable number of miles through woods and meadows as beautiful. The sense of proprietorship was still new enough to give a little thrill, fo

ngth and elegance that an athletic youth gives to the most awkwardly made man. His face was at once humorous and sad; it is strange how a humorous character shows itself through the saddest set of feature. Odd's long, rather acquiline nose and Vandyke beard mad

a pathetic folly, and, as a result, s

deftly secured in the landing-net and despatched with merciful promptitude; indeed, a little look of nervous distaste might ha

sat down in the shade. It was hot; the

n little of him; his wife was understood to be something of an invalid, and he had two girls-these their voices, no doubt. Odd took off his hat and mopped his forehead, looking at the little landing-whar

ident young voice-a gay voice, quiet, and yet exc

ng, crowned her small head. She was not pretty; Odd saw that immediately, even while admiring the well-poised figure, its gallantly held little torso and light energy. Her profile showed a short nose and prominent chin, inharmoniously accentuated. She seemed really ugly when her sister joined her; the sister was beautiful. Odd roused himself a little fr

, and then away to the next band of shadow. "Dive in, and r

eady ungallantly designated her. "We usually get in on this shallower side and swim off. We h

ather a faltering voice-unfortunately falt

ou mustn't be a

; "but I never tried it. What must I d

dity of tone. "Keep your mouth shut and strike out as you come u

e landing, one slim foot advanced in a tentative effort, she looked down shrinking into the wa

is so deep,"

ade face showed signs

eak you of that craven spirit. What are

over my head-I might

e near th

the child became; couldn't the idiot see that? The tear-filled eyes and looks that showed a struggle between fear of her father's anger an

r, it's nothing; being frightened will make it some

who isn't a coward-and how one of my daughters came to b

n, and watched Miss Katherine with a lack of sympathy that was certainly unfair, for the plucky little person went through the performance most creditably, stretched out and up her

n, little white feather." He spoke more kindly; the elder sister's

would go bundling in, and hurt herself. "But, papa," and he

ad passed, but a moment under water is long. Captain

he can

hed in, knee-deep, and as Katherine's head appeared at some distance down the current-an angry little head, half choked, and gasping. Kather

rface with some difficulty, his strokes impeded by sinuous cord-like weeds. Captain Archinard was too much astonis

eeds have probably grown

h, and severely; the child looked half d

e Captain recognized his neighbo

his astonishment, and repeated wi

d of me and I almost screamed, only I remembered that I mustn't open my mouth, and I thought I would never come to the top." The self-pitying retrospect brought the tears to her eyes, but s

se reproaches than one would have expected af

at the error; "made her? She went in herself! Like a roc

tried to s

nted, for she had evidently had not shown her sister's aplomb and had opened her m

e in after her," she added, looking up at Odd with a bright, quic

ain, when Katherine had led away to the bathing-cabin her still dazed sister, "but y

in the river. I merely went in a bit dee

wn one of the men directly after lunch and have it seen to. Really I feel a sense of responsibility." The Captain went on

for the child's fright, though he replied g

as well as one may know such a recluse; spent some pleasant hours in his library-magnificent library you've got. Peculiarly satisfactory it must be, as you go in for that sort of t

ur duties yet, and my wife only got b

u know; liked the country here immensely. Poor old Jack! Only lived ten years to enjoy it-and died a bachelor-luckily for me. But we've missed one another, haven't we? Neighbors too.

reminiscent tone of admiration most natural and allowable. Odd accepted the invitation to tea, waded bac