bright blush, and an appealing look
that was almost humble. Delia was touched. She had begun to think Anna
rather cold and indifferent in the way she had talked about coming to
Dornton; but, after all, it was unreasonable to expect her to feel warm
affection for a grandfather who was almost a stranger. When she knew
him she would not be able to help loving him, and, meanwhile, she
herself must not forget that she had promised the Professor to be Anna's
friend; no doubt she had said truly that, she was lonely at Waverley.
She met Anna's advances cordially, therefore, and by the time they had
turned off the high-road into the fields, the two girls were chatting
gaily, and quite at their ease with each other. Everything in this
field-walk was new and delightful to Anna, and her pleasure increased by
feeling that she had made a friend of her own age. The commonest
wild-flowers on her path were wonderful to her unaccustomed eyes. Delia
must tell their names. She must stop to pick some. They were prettier
even than Aunt Sarah's flowers at Waverley. What were those growing in
the hedge? She ran about admiring and exclaiming until, near the end of
the last field, the outbuildings of Leas Farm came in sight, which stood
in a lane dividing the farmer's property from Mr Forrest's.

"There's Mr Oswald," said Delia, suddenly.

Anna looked up. Across the field towards them, mounted on a stout, grey
cob, came the farmer at a slow jog-trot. So much had happened since her
arrival at Waverley, that she had now almost forgotten the events of
that first evening, and all idea of telling her aunt of her acquaintance
with Mr Oswald had passed from her mind. As he stopped to greet the
girls, however, and make a few leisurely remarks about the weather, it
all came freshly to her memory.

"Not been over to see my cows yet, missie," he said, checking his pony
again, after he had started, and leaning back in his saddle. "My
Daisy's been looking for you every day. You'd be more welcome than
ever, now I know who 'twas I had the pleasure of driving the other day--
for your mother's sake, as well as your own."

Delia turned an inquiring glance on her companion, as they continued
their way. Would she say anything? Recollecting Mrs Winn's story, she
rather hoped she would. But Anna, her gay spirits quite checked, walked
soberly on in perfect silence. It made her uncomfortable to remember
that she had never undeceived Aunt Sarah abo