Mrs. Geoffrey

ith growing excitement. "Over there, under that bush. Why on earth can't you see him?

plantations, in hot pursuit of a young turkey that is eviden

breath is coming more quickly than is exactly desirable; but, being possessed with the desire to conquer or die, he still holds on. He races madly over the ground, crying "S

our left. Sure you know your right, don't you?" with a full, but unconscious, touch of scorn. "Hurry! hurry! or he will be gone again. Was there ever such

of ferns, drawing after him and holding up triumphantly to the light the wandering bird, that

eciprocated by the captured turkey. "Hold him tight: you have no i

lief in her tone, and Geoffrey begi

rieking turkey, crosses the bridge. Having gained the other side, he places the angry bird on its mother earth, and with a final and almost tender "Shoo!" sends him scuttling along to

itting on a bank, laughing an

ghtly; "but the poor little thing would have died

onsider I have been the means of preventing a public c

"How ugly it would be. It would hav

heard of a ghost that was not strictly decent. It would have

" asks Mona, star

ve some compensation for the awful se

on, for their walk, conversing as they go, of

hed Mona, coming to a stile, seats himself comfortabl

s Rodney, hoping sincerely she

lf a yard between them of passable wall crowned with green sods, across which they can hold sweet converse with the utmost affability. The evening is fine; the heavens

asily in her lap. "I mean,-what is she like? Is she cold,

"proud" he cannot deny, even to himself, are word

flushing a vivid sc

ime; "she's all right, you know, my mother; and you'll like he

somewhat wistfully, feeling, without

could take any one

me," says this astute reader of humanity. "But women are

comes to her senses. By and by, do you know you have never asked me about your future home,-my own place, Leighton Hall? and

er dark eyes that are always so full of truth and hones

her falls through beneath the gaze of those searching eyes. "Well, no more h

had ever come to your assistan

odney, with a shameless laugh, "because

curious way, never removing her gaze and never returni

suppress all outward signs of enjoyment. "I'm awfully poor when compared with some fellows. I dare say I mu

not been open with me: you should have told me. I haven't ever thought of you to myself as being a rich man. Now

ducing the space between them to a mere nothing, and slipping his arm round her waist. "And if I was a beggar on the

esentment, and once more gives shelter to gentle thoughts alone. She even consents to

e whispers, as a last fading censure. "Do

reassuringly "You don't look a bit unha

And I am unhappy. How will your mother, Mrs. Rodney, like your marrying me,

ead. "When my mother sees you she will fall in love with you on the spot, as w

dn't well call her any th

s Geoffrey. "My father was a baro

quite pale, and, slipping off the sti

y when she hears you are going to marry a farmer's niece? It is shameful of you," says Mona, with as much indignation as if the young man opposite to her, who is

ould only

e. 'Lady Rodney!' I dare say"-with awful meaning in her t

very earnestly, feeling that Fate has been more than ki

sure?"-do

ly cer

our br

nly Mr. Ro

the brother you called 'Old Nick'-Ol

onet is really never of the slightest importance," says Geoffrey, anxi

ow all about it. Even Lady Mary would have married him if he had asked her, though his hair is the color of an orange

Rodney, indignantly. "And if you address

l marriages but worry, and despair, and misery, and death," says Mona

g novels," says Rod

t," says Mona

ut of your mind

to be rude"-slowly-"answers no purpose

n sense. In plainer lang

. The sooner you begin

an't take it. Mona,"-seizing her hands and speaking more in passionate exci

ing me to say that," says

her hands from him, he turns and strides savagely d

ass she has been idly holding during the late warm discussion. She is honestly very much frightened at what she has done, but obstinately declines to acknowledge it even to her own heart.

age to be quite perfectly happy here again, after a little bit, just as I have been all my life-before he came. And when he is gone"-she pauses, chokes back with stern determination a very heavy sigh, and then goes on hastily and with suspicious bitterness, "What a temper he has! Horrid! The way he flung away my hand, as if he d

e is so pale at the bare thought that her eyes may never again

that are purple with the soft and glowing heather. The roar of the rushing waves comes from the bay

ng on, and

ber livery al

nsatisfactory reverie, draws her bre

d with angry thoughts, had gone. And as she so stands, with her hand to her forehead, after a little while a

that is half gladness, half a

"whether he will be with me at the usua

er gown and runs swif