Tiny Luttrell

is hat with a sweep and swiftness that amounted almost to a flourish, nor Christina from noticing this and his clothes. He was so admirably attired in summer gray that she took pleasure in reflec

ght have been di

ord Manister declared,

id Christina, smiling. "

with some wooden things under his arm. He wouldn't see me, b

ates, which they had both very stupidly forgotten; she added

nobleman. "Ah, they'

tridges; you can't shoo

he studied his boots among the daisies. Christina smiled as sh

n. Perhaps you could do with the trap and my mare on the bridge; she's something special, I assure you. And I have been thinking-if you think

lfully hesitating before giving him a gracious answer. For when she spoke it was to say, with a smile at his anxiety, "Really, you are very considerate, Lord Maniste

ster, who would have been very sorry to believe what he was saying. "I dare

a-"the light is so excellent just

tralia was better for

t to beat this morning anywhere; the great thing

u like E

s corner of England; I haven

imply. Then he paused. "How strange to meet you here, though!" he added, as if he c

tedly; "for I am sure I told you that my sister and her husband had taken Essin

to forget it. To be sure yo

member saying that y

ister smiled. Nor was the smile one of his best, which were charmin

dness and humility which made Christina tingle in a sudden appreciation

marked Christina reflectivel

, as he added strangely: "You do and say so many foolish things without a decent why or wherefore. They're

d where the dogcart had vanished and would reappear. She, however, was the next

hen we met in town; if I had I shouldn't have known it was yours. I ne

cried Manister earnestly,

; for his reply was a triumphant flourish of the opinion she desired him to hold, to show he

is fingers were entangled in his watch-chain; and in the knowledge that the greater awkwardness was on his side she

dn't mention our having taken

n whether you w

mean to say, it crossed my mind-that perhaps

slipped from her head and fallen round her shoulders. The coolness of her face against the black velvet exas

ister," said the girl calmly, and not w

n't mind m

am delighted. Wh

behaved li

ced. "You went away without s

ithout saying

g oth

ply. "You and I wer

ce passed over Lord Manister's shoulder. He knew tha

n friends," he re

think we

thought

d, but her eyes stil

uietly. "Whatever it was, it didn't last long; but I forgive that fr

etting you talked about?

hristina after a moment's hesitation. "The rest was nonsense; an

fended by her abuse of the word. "It was not nonsense!" he cried. "It was something either better or worse. I

e pitiable; but Christ

passive party, though others said differently. All I have to forgive is what you made other people say; but th

if you knew what has been in my heart all this time, you would pity one. You have haunted me! I have been good for nothing ever since I came back to England. My people will tell

as she colored, the trot of a horse

about it," she whispered

all out?" he

ourse

ogcart at the bend

start

as it drew up on the bridge she murmured, "I think we had better let well alone," without look

ion. Thanks to Lord Manister's tact, that look did not last. Manister, who had his own impression of young Luttrell's character, and had not to be shrewd to guess the other's attitude toward himself, brought his most graceful manner to bear on the situation. With Tiny Luttrell, during the bad quarter o

er ready to return, with interest, some fancied slight; but Christina had never known him rude to anyone going out of his way to be polite to him, as Lord Manister was doing this morning. She divined that politeness from a nobleman was not less gratifying to Herbert because he happened to have maligned the nobleman with much industry. Herbert's modest desire wa

on't move, Luttrell. I'm going to help your sister. Hadn't

time care seemed to be taken by the photographers, while Lord Manister stood at a little distance, laughing a good deal. He was pressed to stand in the foreground, b

era was being packed away, "you're a crick

an replied, "but I haven't played o

it; come over and

eclaring that he shoul

great cricketer,"

bad, considering it was only made last winter, and there's a professor to bowl to yo

me within measurable distance of offending the tou

rd Manister drove off in the opposite direction, with another slightly ornamental sweep of his hat. "

d over for you next t

Lord Manister

ent of him to send back the trap for me. But I didn't want to ge

el

her by

went down on his knees for his sins; I hope you gave him fits! But look h

"There's nothing to hide. But-you can b

you like-but he's on the job now i

hope he isn't,"

as not o