e heard; and Miss
Bethia, pleased with the interest she displayed, made no pause till Ned
called out that young Mr Oswald was driving Davie over the bridge, and
that now Violet would have to go.

"Mamma," said Violet, "I have not told you why I came yet. Mr Oswald
sent me, and I cannot tell it all at once. Let me stay till after tea,
and Jem can take me home."

"All right," said Jem. "I have no objections, if nobody else has none."

There was a little pleasant confusion after Mr Philip and David came
in, two or three speaking at once, and all eager to be heard, and then
Mr Philip was introduced to the visitor. There was no mistaking the
look she bent upon him. It was searching and critical, admiring, but
not altogether approving.

"You have never been out Gourlay way?" said she.

"No, I never have, as yet."

"He did not know what nice people the Gourlay people are, or he would
have been," said Jem.

"I expect so," said Miss Bethia. "It ain't too late to go yet."

"Thank you, Miss Barnes. I shall be happy to accept your kind
invitation," said Philip.

In the meantime, Violet had been telling her mother of Mr Oswald's
proposal. It was a matter of too great importance to be dismissed with
a single word of refusal, as Violet would have liked, and time must be
taken to consider it.

"Violet is not going with you, Mr Philip," said Jessie. "She is going
to stay and take tea with Miss Bethia."

"I am sorry you should have had the trouble of coming round this way for
nothing, Mr Philip," said Mrs Inglis. "We want Violet a little while
to-night. Miss Barnes does not know how soon she may go, and Violet
thinks she can be spared to-night, perhaps."

"Of course, she can be spared. And it was no trouble, but a pleasure,
to come round. Shall I come back again?"

"Pray, do not. Jem will go with me. I shall like the walk."

"All right!" said Jem. "I consider myself responsible for her. She
will be up there at the proper time."

"All right!" said Philip cheerfully. "Aunt Mary, you might ask me to
have tea too."

"You haven't had your dinner yet," said Jessie.

"And you could not keep your horse standing so long," said Ned.

"And, besides, I am not to be invited," said Philip, laughing.

They all watched him and his fine horse as they went over the bridge and
along the street. Then Violet said:

"Now, mamma, you are to sit down and I am to get tea. I can do all
quite well."

And, so tying on