ood
near her she thanked him graciously for his escort in the Park. "If
it wasn't for you, Mr. Dunn, I really think I should not get any
riding at all. Bernard and Miss Dunstable have only one thing to
think about, and certainly I am not that one thing." She thought it
probable that if she could keep Siph close to her, Mrs. Thorne, who
always managed those things herself, might apportion her out to be
led to dinner by her good-natured friend. But the fates were averse.
The time had now come, and Lily was waiting her turn. "Mr. Fowler
Pratt, let me introduce you to Miss Lily Dale," said Mrs. Thorne. Lily
could perceive that Mr. Pratt was startled. The sign he gave was the
least possible sign in the world; but still it sufficed for Lily to
perceive it. She put her hand upon his arm, and walked down with him
to the dining-room without giving him the slightest cause to suppose
that she knew who he was.

"I think I saw you in the Park riding?" he said.

"Yes, I was there; we go nearly every day."

"I never ride; I was walking."

"It seems to me that the people don't go there to walk, but to stand
still," said Lily. "I cannot understand how so many people can bear
to loiter about in that way--leaning on the rails and doing nothing."

"It is about as good as the riding, and costs less money. That is all
that can be said for it. Do you live chiefly in town?"

"Oh, dear no; I live altogether in the country. I'm only up here
because a cousin is going to be married."

"Captain Dale, you mean--to Miss Dunstable?" said Fowler Pratt.

"When they have been joined together in holy matrimony, I shall go
down to the country, and never, I suppose, come up to London again."

"You do not like London?"

"Not as a residence, I think," said Lily. "But of course one's
likings and dislikings on such a matter depend on circumstances. I
live with my mother, and all my relatives live near us. Of course I
like the country best, because they are there."

"Young ladies so often have a different way of looking at this
subject. I shouldn't wonder if Miss Dunstable's views about it were
altogether of another sort. Young ladies generally expect to be taken
away from their fathers and mothers, and uncles and aunts."

"But you see I expect to be left with mine," said Lily. After that
she turned as much away from Mr. Fowler Pratt as she could, having
taken an aversion to him. What business had he to talk to her about
being taken away from her