Under the Country Sky

, furrily clad for a walk with James Stuart,

a good tramp," Stuart ur

result was proving eminently satisfactory. At the end of the first half of the visit Jeannette was looking wonderfully well and hap

ade me. Run along and leave me to diversi

had smiled at them, had closed the door softly behind them-and had immediately banged to ano

what they think my diversions are-with this family to look after. Well, yo

e afternoon on a rare visit to a neighbour who had sent for him, an old parishioner, who, falling ill, longed for the gentle offices of his friend and long-time ministe

nd stood eying the great hand loom of antique pattern, a relic of an earlier century. It w

d, and shook her round fi

strong arms she pulled and pushed and sent her clumsy shuttle flying back and forth. The attic was very cold; but she

to attract-jealous because Jimps likes her so well-because Father Davy looks at her with the eyes of an appreciative uncle-because Mr. E. C. Jeffe

deep voice at the top of the

he rafters. "Oh! I'm sorry! Did I disturb you?" cried Georgiana, fire in her voice. She did not look in

ooking curiously at the loom "I came up because I thought something

I do this whenever I have time and the coast is clear.

and Mr. Stuart starting off alone, in hopes that you m

are orders very much overdue. I've been rather delayed lately, since m

f you need to make haste. But that must be a rather strenuous business. It's a very ol

g on the floor. "But that's no reason why you shouldn't examine the Monster if

have done, but that

efer that I should not. Come back, please!

full on her face as she stood, and he s

is loom was that I saw your last two strokes with the bar as I came up, and I recognized what a tremendous push you had to give. I'm s

ck mood, and the more I tire myself the quicker I shall get the b

elf under my own heel. Do you have them, t

ad them," she said rather curiou

u sure you wouldn't do better to take a run in the wind with me? You

are?" For the life of her she

felt as if he saw much that she would prefer to conceal. "I have known a few that seemed to me fairly

ren't the same

. I am concerned for you, lest this prove too heavy. Now that I am

can of oil, and when she had procured them he did a number of things to the cumbersome loom, the result of wh

of hair, shaken down by his labours, straying across his forehead. "Please tell me, and don't think me mere

and I have a feeling for colour and form and can work out effects which find a market. Hand-w

cause for pity. But-I have reason for persisting in my inquiry. You see, I happen to know of some one in need of such

tent, incredulous eyes. Then, "Do

te a prejudice against me." He was smiling a little. "But I state an actual fact. I have reached a point in my

r, "of manufacturing a need. It is very, very kind of you,

should have put it to you before now. I am in earnest, Miss Warne. Won't you, as a matter of everyday business, lend me your eyes and your hand-and your critical judgment? If you can't do it while Miss Crofton is here, may

you as

ice against accepting a business proposition simply because it happens to come f

mind over the possibilities opened up by this most unexpected offer. There was no denying that it was precisely the sort of thing which she had often longed to do, and for which, she knew, as he had suggested, she was more than ordinarily well fitted. It was impossible, as she had said, not

? Well, she would think of it. And mean