The Old Blood

aid awaiting their arrival and the white-haired woman who presi

noon tea in America,

e an American in England mak

Truckleford? Is it like wh

about the village as they walked from the station, than of the

ey were like. My father had given such rosy descriptions of everything that I was afraid I might be disappointed. Bu

es of satisfaction. They were not disp

recipe for strawberry shortcake which your father sent ove

id Mrs. Sanford. "I am no

assist in picking the berrie

et, I

aid Helen Ribot. "We'll al

eciate it if you did not

isted. "If one did not watch you you'd nev

a success,"

she reappeared his glance happened to be resting on the same spot. She stopped, waving her hand in a way that let the sleeve fa

exclaimed. "Aren't you prou

rs. Sanford. "You mus

quite enthusiast

gesture restoring the truant to place prolonged the thrill that had proceeded from the point of contact, with an intimation of self-consciousness on her part as well as on his. Helen was picking,

his ancestors in the little churchyard, but Henriette forestalled him wi

lled to Helen as she starte

uncle and aunt," sai

ca don't appear often," Phil pu

hook he

's a good mouse!"

e unlike Heinriette's now and a flash of

ought. But Henriette smiled as if accustome

ustn't mind her abruptness. She has m

s flushed, with a singular, penitent look in her eyes, and the v

But I had planned to do something and

eparable, you and Helen," said Phil

mblance in our voices. I have tried to change mine and she has tried to change hers, for there was something uncanny about it, but neither

utting the question to him at the same time as her

my favourite

ttern-work of hedges. The beauty of the landscape to him was in its suggestion, no less than in its appeal to the ey

k rare courage in those days," said Phil, "harked back to this scene which was bred in his

I fancy," Henriette said. "I'm bred i

oo," he suggested. "You h

r a moment, then look

walk in the neighbourhood of our chateau at Mervaux which I sho

I should like to show you i

, is that it?" She was smiling at her

ul

in England. Bully is an Amer

ppi

ughter was the persistent radiance in her eyes. A passing labou

to them-youth a

to the subj

," she said, "you're not returning to America

hich did not include any visit to Mervaux. But when the a

"Helen musses about with charcoals and I with oils. You will see what life

t. He decided that he would cut out Vienna and go to Me