heart it was ever and always, though some new woman's feeling caused that to be hidden from his knowledge. "Then we'll close the bargain," said honest Walter, with vast satisfaction. "Only remember, my little lady, we must be in earnest. No fuming when I do my duty—I like strict discipline. No frowning, nor the shadow of one of those queer grimaces, or I shall certainly resign the appointment.” 145 IT CHAPTER VIII. "I weigh not fortune's frown or smile; JOSHUA SYLVESTER. was an enervating, oppressive after noon. Several sets of the hotel visitors were playing croquet at the same time, and frequent little disputes and much talk came from their plot, near the shrubbery. More groups were seated on the grass, or on benches, along the shaded house-wall, if they were elderly and suspicious of damp, in spite of dry weather; VOL, I. L while a few slow riders on the Stray were trying to imagine they liked exercise, notwithstanding the heat; and some flies came occasionally past at a crawling trot, raising little clouds of dust. In the background, the windows on the ground-floor of the hotel were wide open, affording varying views of sitting-room interiors. That of the Higginses, for instance, showed a tempting display of five o'clock tea, a luxury not indulged in by everyone, and which caused some interested mortals to begin suddenly confidential topics of gossip with the daughters of the family, close on that witching hour-a practice voted "mean" by the widow, who was aware that her misdeeds. and antecedents gave the principal piquancy to conversation at these entertainments. Huntley was leaning on the garden railings under a tree, smoking one of the few cigars allowed him by his doctor, with keener relish for the enjoyment, and watching some one with a look of lazy content ment. He felt in an especially happy mood, perhaps from having been much employed, in his walks to and from the wells, in chewing the cud of very pleasant reminiscences of the past ten days. During these― since their quarrel and reconciliation-his strong pity and protecting fondness for his little Goldenlocks, as he had at first laughingly called her to himself, had changed into a restless dissatisfaction, unless he were always near her-increased even from that into proportions whose sudden growth would have surprised himself, had he thought about it. As it was, he thought only about her. I think none other of womankind had ever before so filled his mind with one image, and he had none of his men friends here, nor any work, to divert his thoughts. He was so unused to women, too, that Mabel seemed thereby a hundredfold more bright and fresh, while her singularly infantile looks made him deceive himself longer into think ing this merely a strong fancy for a harshlytreated, winning child. In fine, he had thought of her and for her, and of how to please her, during most of the past livelong days. Her sunny-haired likeness succeeded in holding regal sway over the kingdom of his mind, waking or sleeping; whether our side of the world were passing through darkness, or had grandly rolled round again into day and sunshine. She had come out a few minutes ago, as patient watching of the door from a distance had made evident, and had seated herself near an arbutus bush, carrying Mimi, Madame's Persian kitten, the one living thing that lady was known to be fond of. (She had just desired Mab, with a petty tyranny which gave herself infinite pleasure, and was not likely to cause open rebellion,-speaking through her thin lips with smiling coldness, -to take out her pet for fresh air, and not to venture away from it.) |