e, and I suppose Mr Perry had seen them, too. Are you coming down,
Graeme?"

"In a little. Don't wait for me, if you wish to go."

"Oh! I am in no haste," said Rose, sitting down by the window. "What
are you going to say to me, Graeme?"

But if Graeme had anything to say, she decided not to say it then.

"I suppose we ought to go down."

Rose followed her in silence. They found Mr and Mrs Snow alone.

"Mr Millar has just stepped out," said Mr Snow. "So you had the
minister to-night, again, eh, Rosie? It seems to me, he is getting
pretty fond of visiting, ain't he?"

Rose laughed.

"I am sure that is a good thing. The people will like that, won't
they?"

"The people he goes to see will, I don't doubt."

"Well, we have no reason to complain. He has given us our share of his
visits, always," said Mrs Snow, in a tone that her husband knew was
meant to put an end to the discussion of the subject. Graeme was not so
observant, however.

"It was hardly a visit he made at Mr Greenleaf's to-night. He came in
just, before tea, and left when we left, immediately after. He walked
with us to the foot of the hill."

"He was explaining to Elliott and me the chemical change that takes
place in the leaves, that makes the beautiful autumn colours we were
admiring so much," said Rose. "He is great in botany and chemistry,
Elliott says."

And then it came out how he had crossed the bridge, and found them under
the oak trees behind the mill, and what talk there had been about the
sunset and the leaves, and a good deal more. Mr Snow turned an amused
yet doubtful look from her to his wife; but Mrs Snow's closely shut
lips said so plainly, "least said soonest mended," that he shut his
lips, too.

It would have been as well if Graeme had done so, also she thought
afterwards; but she had made up her mind to say something to her sister
that night, whether she liked it or not, and so standing behind her, as
she was brushing out her hair, she said,--

"I think it was rather foolish in Mr Perry to come to Mr Greenleaf's
to-night, and to come away with us afterwards."

"Do you think so?" said Rose.

"Yes. And I fancied Mr and Mrs Greenleaf thought so, too. I saw them
exchanging glances more than once."

"Did you? It is to be hoped the minister did not see them."

"Merleville people are all on the watch--and they are so fond of
talking. It is not at all nice, I think."

"Oh, well, I don't know. It depends a