Mrs. Geoffrey

till milder, until it seems that even in the

tar, that sits apart from all the rest, is twinkling and gleaming in its blue nest, now throwing out a pale emerald ray, now a blood-red fire, a

therto unseen by Geoffrey, lie chained. They are two splendid bloodhounds, that, as she approaches, rise to the

s Mona looses them from their den, they go to him, and, sniffing round him, at last open their great jaws into a s

one. "Once they do that, they mean to tell you they have adop

ing the handsome creatures as they crou

assure you, not as a love-token. He gave them to me when they were quite babies, and I reared them myself.

m. One gets so tired of 'Rags and Tatters,' 'Beer and Skittles,' 'Cakes and Al

and she calls "Mickey, Mickey," a

his master-appears round a corner, and declares, respectfully, that he will be ready in a

short period,-or else Mona and Geoffrey h

asses us, has

wift, and of a

not to be ready, if it so pleases her, for another five minutes or so, or even, if necessary, to efface himself altogether. He is a stalwart

the two dogs at their heels, and their attendant squire, who brings up the rear with a soft whistle that rings through th

and, striking across a field, make straight for the high hill that conceals the ocean from the farm. Over many

and going of their own breath as it rises quickly from their hearts

he water's edge, which lies sleeping beneath them, lulled into slumber by the

beauty of the silver pathway thrown so lightly upon it by the queen of heaven. It falls there so clear, so unbroken, tha

here with snowy clouds tipped with palest gray. A little c

up; it is the

de one bold, bri

f her

! the heavens l

upon the side of the hill, with her hands clasped about her knees, a thoughtful expression on her lovely face. At each

ona's face, her pretty attitude, her two mighty defenders. She reminds him in some wise of Una and the lion, though the

destroys i

ng her gaze back from the glowing heavens,

nd gladdens the heart of the little patriot at his feet. She smiles contentedly, and turns her eyes once more with lazy delig

oonlight with her faithful attendant and her two dogs, to sit and dream away a long sweet hour brimful of

is fraught with a tremulous joy, and with a va

thoughts of other people," says Mona, so

ot thought of her as one versed in lore

itation. Then, shyly, "I have so few to read. I have a

yr

best, and then Longfellow. Why do you s

his own surprise at her preference for his lordship beneath the calm purity

ed up to the sky his words came back to me. You remember what he says about the

ne, in the infinite

stars, the forget-m

o sweet,

o, who watched all that: do you?"

ns she, too wrapped up in recollections of that s

the twilight gloom o

s, and whispe

is it not? I know all that

ppointed by the cal

urning his head away,-"of the-lovers. I won

akes n

ks he, presently, puzzled by the

akes h

lovely. You would lik

ill with her knees in her embrace, and without l

g of the moon," with faint impatience; "yet, as you

it to me,

he lines slowly, and in his be

on, the queen of he

beautiful on w

shrine of sof

ransformed, yet

but not i

is chagrin, on looking at Mona he finds she is wreathed

to recitation, and then find your listener in agonies of suppr

"It reminded me so much of that speech about tea, that they always use at temperance meetings; they call it the beverage

esn't

a, now really contrite. "I couldn't h

himself, as he notices the peni

like it," says M

onger bears in mind her evil deed; after which, feeling she still owes him something, she suddenly intimates to him that he may sit down on the gra

f which is undeniable, Mickey (th

' I see ivery prospect of it," says Mickey to h

Betty Martin." He would consider the bluest water that ever rolled a poor thing if compared to the water that boiled in the big kettle, and sadly inferior to such cold water

n, he coughs respectfully but very loudly behind his hand. He waits in anxious hope for the result of this telling man[oe]uvre, but n

esperate, grows bolde

miss, will ye

er words are satisfactory, her tone is not. There is a lazy ring in it

ore comin' out wid ye," he says, mild

yet, Mickey, isn'

rly," puts

es out an' finds the mare widout her bed, there'll b

stable to-night," sa

gets raal troublesome. An' I feel just as if he was in the stable this bless

s if he had gone q

santly, tu

e. "An' there's the pigs, miss

them?" says Mona, with s

me mind, miss, so that I can't even enjoy me pipe, and it's fresh baccy I have an' all, an' it might as well b

ess is in your family,"

be to--. Miss Mona," coaxingly, "sure, it's only a step to the

or a young man to see a young woman home, through dewy fields and beneath "mellow moons," at half-past ten at night. It is now fully nine, and she cannot yet b

go, miss?"

all other women he has ever met, with their petty affectations and mock modesties, their would-be hesitations and their final yieldings. She has no

hat alone, lays its big head upon her shoulder, and looks at her with large loving eyes. Turning to him in response, she rubs her sof

ou," says Mona: "they, too, will want their suppers. Go, Spice, when I

, and reluctantly accompany the

urning to Geoffrey, "and would like to go home? I suppose every one can

by the intense relief in her face, he goes on: "How you do enjoy the beauties of Nature! Do you know I have been studying you since you came here, and I could see how your whole soul was w

"I thought of you many times. For one thing, I felt glad that you could

e says watching her face intently, "and S

shall neve

go there, perhaps w

hat has pain and sorrow in it; "for the

y?" per

her feet in the uncertain moonlight, with an expression sad but earnest,-"because, though I am

s refute you. That man called Moore cared for you

n saw him," says Mo

you know," holding up his hand to stop her as she is about

ously. "I couldn't care for him either; but what I said

elbow as the argument waxes warmer; "then all

them, I suppose, as

that I don't care for yo

vades

s, rising, with a little

d, nay more, discomfited. Just in this wise would a woman in his own set answer him, did she mean to repel his advances for the moment

tone, but one full of coldness; and s

shyly, abashed by his studied silence. "But," nervously

,-before I retu

tibly, which is b

a most mournful attempt at unc

ut some time, of

ou will be happier there." She is looking straight before her. There is no quiver in her tone

for once you are wrong. I have never been-I shall

lain upon her bosom all night, pulls it to pieces petal by petal. And th

and holds out his arms to assist her to descend. As she reaches the ground, and while his arms are still round her,

nsinuation is as perf

who is too much of a gentleman to pretend to understand all her w

long journey," says M

truth, his mind is wandering to that last lit

n't." Does he then deem it possible she will ever be able to cross to that land that calls him son

istmas?" she says, in a tone so

asks he, suddenly, taking her ha

urns she, t

f it is that! At times I have thought so, and yet aga

?" repeats s

, if this be so, she may well count herself in luck, bec

him as though afraid of herself. "Do not. The more you say now, the worse it wi

Could you not be

little tender seraphic smile creeps into her eyes and lies

e going to marry me, you know, and that is all about it. I shall marry you, whether you like it or not, so you may as well give in with a good grace. And I'

, in a frozen tone,-"nothing." Then passionately,

g her go, and moving back a step or two, a frown upo

uld not make you happy,-not afterwards, when you could see the difference between me and the other women you have known. You ar

ch makes me sorry for all the other women. You are dearer and sweeter in my eyes than any one I have ever known! Is not this enough? Mona, are you sure no other reason prevents your accepting me? Why do you hesitate?" He has grown a little

answer," he

tone,-so low that he has to bend to hear

Geoffrey. "I want no reasons for your rejection.

it is not that," says Mona, in deep g

ot, you

with a last effort at determination, an

not," says Mr. Ro

," says Mon

tive you want to marry me; and just because of some wretched fad you

in my head," say

he grossest rudeness, "when you can let a few ridiculous scruples int

ans

ter. If you don't," threateningly, "

no a

mence, and, having plucked a leaf from the hedge near her, is tr

id crimson. She examines it minutely, as though lost in wonder at its excessive beauty, for beautiful exceedingly it is

ys Geoffrey, deeply angered with her.

unheeded by her in her great distress. Lifting it almost unwillingly, he comes close to her, an

. "You are crying? My darling girl! There, lay your head on my shoulder, and let us forget we have ever quarrelled. It is our fir

e flatters himself, is r

ite sure you would never reg

, as long as I have you!" says

ona. "If you were rich or even well

, unblushingly! "as a rule, girls no

um;" but Mona co

d tears, as a rule, make no long stay with her,-ashamed, perhaps, to disfigure the fair "windows of her soul," tha

th you," returns she, gently. "Ah

r so decidedly, and refused to have anything to do with me, I lost faith in you, and began to think you a thorough-going coquet

within her wonderful eyes. She is so please

ou are too good for me,-a fellow who has gone racketing

draws his face down to her own. "I wouldn't have you altered in any way," she says; "not in the smallest matter. As you are,

hen he says this he is not so far from the truth, for her tender s