id the host.

"Thank you very much for your kind wishes," said Will.

"Yes, thank you very much," echoed Gwenda. Will was in danger of
losing his head as well as his heart. To have his name (from which, by
the by, he had dropped the plebeian "s") bracketed with Miss Gwenda
Vaughan's was a state of things which, though occasioned only by a
simple coincidence, elated him beyond measure. He had indeed, he
thought, stepped out of the old order of things and made his way into a
higher grade of life by an easy bound. He was careful, however, to
hide his gratified pride entirely from those around him.

After lunch, Mrs. Trevor proposed a stroll through the conservatories,
and while the elders stopped to admire a fern or a rare exotic, Will
and Gwenda roamed on under the palms and greenery to where a sparkling
fountain rose, and flung its feathery spray into the air.

"Will you sit down?" said Will, pointing to a seat which stood
invitingly near. "You must be tired after your long walk."

"Tired? Oh no, I love walking, and am very strong, but we can rest
till the others come up."

And sitting down together they watched the gold fish in the fountain's
rustic basin. Through the glass they could see the sparkling frosty
branches outside against the pale blue sky of a winter's day, the sun
shining round and red through the afternoon haze.

"What a glorious day," said Gwenda at last.

"Yes," answered Will, adding a little under his breath, "one I shall
never forget."

There was something in the tone of his voice which caused a little
flutter of consciousness under Gwenda's fur necklet. She made no
answer, and, after a moment, changed the subject, though with no
displeasure in her voice.

"Do you see those prismatic colours in the spray?"

"Yes, beautiful!" answered Will, rather absently.

He was wondering whether all this was a dream--that he, Will Owen of
Garthowen Farm, was sitting here under the palms and exotics with Miss
Gwenda Vaughan of Nantmyny. At last Gwenda rallied him.

"You are dreaming," she said playfully.

"I am afraid I am."

At this moment the rest of the party appeared, and they all returned to
the house together.

Will looked at his watch.

"I think I must go," he said. "I have a lecture to attend."

"Well," said his uncle, "we won't detain you from that. Quite right,
my boy, never neglect your lectures. I shall see you again to-morrow."

"Now, don't wait for an invitation," sa