270 7177

Siv Arthur, my father. It you wili allow us, Rollo and I will sec you safely over the bridge.”

A mild herd were grazing on the hill. They showed no signs of ferocity 3 but it was mmpossible to say where the bull might he hiding. And why should this pleasant mannered person tell a story ?

She felt rather amused. The first young man to whom she had spoken, and, lo, he was walking composedly at her side !

“Is this land your father’'s? 1 hope we arc not trespassing ? 7

“Oh, dear no—no end of people come here to sketch the ruins.”

“T am Miss Rawdon, of Iirholt, said Ellinor, a little stifly. She did not care to be confounded with “no end of people.”

“Oh,” he said, cagerly, “1 know. Your father has bought that property -a splendid property it 1s, too.”

“I am expecting my father to-night.”

“That’s jolly for you,” he said sympa- thizingly. At least, I suppose it is.”

She looked at him gravely. How was it that she felt she could say to this stranger what was in her heart,

“Is 1t not strange?” she said, almost below her breath. “I have never scen him —that I can remember. 1 have been at school all these years, and he has been in America.”

“Well, that z rather a stunncr —to drop all at once into a parent when you are full grown ; but I expect it will be all right.”

He smiled at her so kindly that the commonplace words scemed the deepest sympathy. By this time she had taken his Image with some clearncss into her mind, as she never again quite lost 1t. A tall, well- made man of thirty, with kind, grey cyes that smiled pleasantly ; a broad and rather high forchead, where the hair alrcady grew o little thin about the temples. The rest of th: features were straight and fincly cut ; the chin shghtly pointed.

“Somcbody would have liked to paint him,” she thought; “onc of those old men, Velas. quez or Rem- brandt.” g A

They had = rcached the bridge, and the vision of Mrs.

STRAND

MAGAZINI.

Montresor, standing up and looking for her charge, presented itself. Catching sight of her in her present alarming vicinity, she hurried forward.

“There 15 my “Mrs. Montresor. introduced to her?”

She felt pleased at the consternation visible on her guardian’s face as she drew near.

“T'his 1s Mr. Peyton, Mrs. Montresor ; he has kindly protected me from a ferocious Bull in the other field. 1t seems we arc upon Sir Arthur Peyton’s ground.”

“ I am very much obliged to Mr. Peyton ;

friend,” sad Ellinor, Will you come and be

3 but you should not have wandered so far. away, Lllinor, and you are quite heated. Come and sit down.”

“1 hear you have been drawing the ruins. I dabble in colour a little myself,” said Peyton. He scemed to have no intention of leaving. He went back with them to the shade of the elm trees, and stayed chatting, dirceting most of his conversation to Mrs. Montresor, until - Jacky (the page) appeared with the luncheon basket, prompted by his own mnner cravings. Then at last Mr. Peyton emembered the claims of his fishing tackle, He held Ellinor’s hand for a moment as he said farewell.

“1 hope we may soon mecet again,” he said. My mother has been meaning to call upon you ; but she has scarcely been able to leave the house for some weeks.”

When he was gone they spread the snowy cloth upon the grass, and such a

collation as women love, cold chicken, and a fresh young lettuce, a bottle of Sauterne, and crisp pastry sheltering green goose- herries.

“SHE LAY WITH HER HEAD RESTING ACGAINST MRS, MONTRESOR’S KNEE.”