more closely together, as each came to
know and understand the depths of the other's nature. So Ned told
himself happily, as he came down to Thurston House for his first visit
in the new character, a week after the all-important interview.

Lilias met him at the door, and led him into the drawing-room, all
fragrant with spring flowers and plants. She looked like a flower
herself, with her soft pink and white colouring, and to the last day of
his life Ned Talbot could never inhale the fragrance of a narcissus or a
hyacinth without a spasm of painful remembrance. It brought back so
vividly the intoxicating joy of that meeting. They talked together in
lover-like fashion, Lilias alternately shy and reticent, and queening it
over him with absurd little airs of authority, at which he laughed with
a lover's delight, until presently a tap came to the door, and Agatha's
face peeped round the corner to announce that tea had been taken out to
the garden, and to ask if the lovers would rather come out, or, have it
sent to them indoors.

"Here, please," said Lilias.

"Oh, we'll come out certainly," cried Ned in the same moment, and then
turned to her with a smile of apology.

"If you don't mind, dear! I want to see Maud. She was out when I left
the other day, you remember, and I can't feel that I am really received
into the family until Maud has given me her blessing."

"Just as you wish, of course. It does seem a pity to stay indoors when
the weather is so glorious!" assented Lilias readily. Though inwardly
annoyed that she should have appeared more anxious than Ned for an
extension of their _tete-a-tete_, she was far too proud to show her
vexation. Nothing could have appeared more ready or more natural than
the manner in which she rose from her seat and slipped her hand through
Agatha's arm; but even while she smiled and chatted she was registering
a vow to punish Mr Ned on the first opportunity.

Out in the garden Maud sat, busying herself with the teacups and nerving
herself to face the dreaded moment, as footsteps approached nearer and
nearer her seat.

"Maud!" cried Ned, and gripped her hand with affectionate fervour, "I
was longing to see you. It seemed too bad going away without a word
from you the other day. We have so much to say to one another!"

"Yes, indeed; but meantime I must pour out the tea! Are you going to
make yourself useful and hand round the cups?" replied a laughing, self-
possessed voice