to say
good-by to her mother, and returned with a smiling face and a side look
of relief directed at her father, to announce that there was nothing
now to keep any of them a moment longer indoors. The company at once
directed their steps to the garden gate, and were there met face to face
by the second great difficulty of the day. How were the six persons of
the picnic to be divided between the two open carriages that were in
waiting for them?

Here, again, Pedgift Junior exhibited his invaluable faculty of
contrivance. This highly cultivated young man possessed in an eminent
degree an accomplishment more or less peculiar to all the young men
of the age we live in: he was perfectly capable of taking his pleasure
without forgetting his business. Such a client as the Master of Thorpe
Ambrose fell but seldom in his father's way, and to pay special but
unobtrusive attention to Allan all through the day was the business of
which young Pedgift, while proving himself to be the life and soul of
the picnic, never once lost sight from the beginning of the merry-making
to the end. He had detected the state of affairs between Miss Milroy and
Allan at glance, and he at once provided for his client's inclinations
in that quarter by offering, in virtue of his local knowledge, to lead
the way in the first carriage, and by asking Major Milroy and the curate
if they would do him the honor of accompanying him.

"We shall pass a very interesting place to a military man, sir," said
young Pedgift, addressing the major, with his happy and unblushing
confidence--"the remains of a Roman encampment. And my father, sir, who
is a subscriber," proceeded this rising lawyer, turning to the curate,
"wished me to ask your opinion of the new Infant School buildings at
Little Gill Beck. Would you kindly give it me as we go along?" He opened
the carriage door, and helped in the major and the curate before they
could either of them start any difficulties. The necessary result
followed. Allan and Miss Milroy rode together in the same carriage,
with the extra convenience of a deaf old lady in attendance to keep the
squire's compliments within the necessary limits.

Never yet had Allan enjoyed such an interview with Miss Milroy as the
interview he now obtained on the road to the Broads.

The dear old lady, after a little anecdote or two on the subject of her
son, did the one thing wanting to secure the perfect felicity of her two
youthful companions: she