Barbara Ladd

-lit window. From the pale sky overhead came the strange twang of swooping night-hawks, as of harp-strings suddenly but firmly plucked. In the intervals between these irregular and always unexpected

an indeed. But her change of attitude was emotional rather than intellectual. She was convinced in mood, not in mind. Only she felt herself on the sudden a very small, tired girl, who deserved to be punished, and wanted to go to bed. Her conviction of childishness was heightened by the fact that Robert, who was walking just ahead with Doctor Jim, in grave discussion,

e felt as if she wanted to cry wildly, deliciously, for hours and hours. But she managed to remember that even a very small girl may be heavy to carry over a rough road in the dusk, when the man who carries her has had a hard day's work chasing her. A

e whispered in his ear. "I'm better now,

octor John, softly; "you bide whe

o show she meant it,-"I want to get down now, please! I

Doctor John was quick in his sympathetic comprehension of women and children, and tolerant of w

keep that a secret between you and me, and not let Jim Pigeon or Master Robert even g

on his arm, while Robert was carrying her little red bundle, which he now handed over to Doctor John. A certain reluctance with which he gave it up was quite lost

d, in a small voice, most unlike the wilful ton

e waiting for you at the Blue Boar yonder. This has been a wonderful day for me. When you think of

ly very grown-up, treating her with a deference which he would never dream of paying to a mere little girl! She resolved to justify his deference, to conceal her pet childishnesses till time should mature them away; yet even as she registered this resolve, she registered a vague but deeper one,

she exclaimed, impulsively. "You'll come over to Seco

esitation and triumph, "I am promising myself that pleasure, Mistress B

Richard's son!- And his heart's in the right place,-and his head, too,-eh, what? We'll see that Mistress Mehitable is not too hard on him

Barbara's left hand, which he had retain

ed into mischief by this little limb o' darkness here. It's a peck of trouble she's been getting you and

a peal of gay laughter, flattered at Doctor John's implications, and comforted to know that Robert was not slipping beyond her reach. "Th

nd of unreasonable championship she ado

ed a nice, civil gentleman whom you'd never seen before in your life to do a perfectly crazy thing like you r

other time. We must get away. Good night-good night. My best compliments

aking his head sorr

oat can turn how great a brain! I

ious of the lonely, wonderful night sounds, and suddenly the night perfumes sank into his heart. The spicy breaths from the clover field and blossoming thicket, cooled with dew, gave him a strange intoxication as he drew them into the depths of his lungs. The pulsing rhythm of the whippoorwill seemed to time itself to the pulsing of his heart and translate it to the terms of an impassioned, inarticulate chant. The plu