answered all Grace's questions, and told her what all the
places were.

But, by-and-by, the atmosphere thickened suddenly in that quarter, and
he then told her gently he had something to show her on the other side
of the knob.

He conducted her to a shed the shepherds had erected, and seated her on
a rude bench. "You must be a little tired," he said.

Then he showed her, in the valley, one of those delightful old red brick
houses, with white stone facings. "That is Bollinghope."

She looked at it with polite interest.

"Do you like it?"

"Very much. It warms the landscape so."

He expected a more prosaic answer; but he took her cue. "I wish it was
a great deal prettier than it is, and its owner a much better man;
richer--wiser--"

"You are hard to please, Mr. Coventry."

"Miss Carden--Grace--may I call you Grace?"

"It seems to me you have done it."

"But I had no right."

"Then, of course, you will never do it again."

"I should be very unhappy if I thought that. Miss Carden, I think you
know how dear you are to me, and have been ever since I first met you. I
wish I had ten times more to offer you than I have. But I am only a poor
gentleman, of good descent, but moderate means, as you see." Comedie!
(Bollinghope was the sort of house that generally goes with L5000 a year
at least.)

"I don't care about your means, Mr. Coventry," said Grace, with a lofty
smile. "It is your amiable character that I esteem."

"You forgive me for loving you; for hoping that you will let me lead you
to my poor house there, as my adored wife?"

It had come; and, although she knew it was coming, yet her face was dyed
with blushes.

"I esteem you very much," she faltered. "I thank you for the honor you
do me; but I--oh, pray, let me think what I am doing." She covered her
face with her hands, and her bosom panted visibly.

Mr. Coventry loved her sincerely, and his own heart beat high at
this moment. He augured well from her agitation; but presently he saw
something that puzzled him, and gave a man of his experience a qualm.

A tear forced its way between her fingers; another, and another, soon
followed.

Coventry said to himself, "There's some other man." And he sighed
heavily; but even in this moment of true and strong feeling he was on
his guard, and said nothing.

It was his wisest course. She was left to herself, and an amazing piece
of female logic came to Mr. Coventry's aid. She found herself crying,
and got