off her hat, and stooped down to help Madge
arrange the flowers; she would not try to understand the
meaning of what they had just witnessed, nor to interpret
Monsieur Horace's look.

"You are going home," said Graham, unfastening the gate
without looking at her; "then we part company here; I have to
go further." And without another word he strode off, leaving
the children disconcerted and rebellious at this abrupt
termination of their walk.

"Madge," said Madelon, caressing the little square perplexed
face, "you won't mind having a short walk to-day, will you?
Let us go home now, and we will play in the garden till your
tea-time;" and wise little Madge agreed without further demur.

It was on the evening of the same day that Madelon, coming in
from the garden where she had been wandering alone in the
twilight, found Horace discussing his plans with Mrs.
Vavasour, who was making tea. She would have gone away again,
but Graham called her back, and went on talking to his sister.

"I must send an answer as soon as possible," he was saying; "I
can't keep B---- waiting for a month while I am making up my
mind; I will speak to Maria this evening."

"It would be as well," answered Mrs. Vavasour; "she ought to
be told at once. But must an answer be sent immediately? I
think you will see that it will be useless to hurry Maria for
a decision; she will want time for consideration."

"She shall have any reasonable time," he replied shortly; "but
that is why I shall speak at once--she can think it over."

"And if you have in a measure made up your mind," continued
her sister, "she will be better pleased, I am sure; she will
wish in some sort to be guided by your wishes."

"That is just what I am anxious to avoid," he answered
impatiently. "I do not desire to influence her in any way; I
would not for the world that she should make any sacrifice on
my account, and then be miserable for ever after."

"My dear Horace, you do not suppose Maria----"

"My dear Georgie, I know what Maria is, and you must allow me
to take my own way."

He began to stride up and down the room with his hands in his
pockets, Madelon watching him in silence. Presently he began
again:--

"I know what Molly is; if she imagined that I wanted to go to
this place, she would say 'Go,' without thinking of herself
for a moment; but ten to one, when we got there, she would be
for ever regretting England, and hating the society, and the
mode of life, an