ine-draped
trees close to the water's edge, and then enter. I was very near them,
meaning this time to make a prompt and bold approach, and as I turned
to enter I heard the elder say:

'No, June, my child. Thee must let me go my way.' She halted and laid
her hand upon the girl's arm. 'I must take these beauties in slowly,
else they will not take lodgment in my memory; besides, this place is
too tempting.'

They moved on towards the shaded seats, and I took from my pocket a
map of the grounds, and, standing on the lowest step of the portico,
affected to study it, while the talk went on.

'Thee can go through this house while I look at the place and the
people, child, and hear the music. Where is that music?'

'Oh, aunty! That horrid Esquimaux band! They've never happened to be
in tune before when we came in, fortunately.'

'Fie, June! I'm sure it's very good. Now go. You know I care little
for fine furnishings, but if there is anything that you think I shall
like to see, you may show it to me when you have seen your fill, and I
mine. There, go, child! I am going to knit.'

The Quakeress took out her knitting, and her niece, uttering a soft
laugh, and giving the shoulder of the other an affectionate pat,
turned away, saying over her shoulder:

'You're a wilful auntie, and you shall have your way. I'll not be
long, so look and listen your fill.'

This was the chance for which I had waited, and I took advantage of it
by closing my map and following her into the building and up the
stairs.

I did not accost her at once, but waited until she had looked about
the larger room facing the south and west, where the case of minerals,
the great deer, and other western treasures and trophies were
displayed, and had sauntered about the cosy and tasteful parlours,
looking at the pictures and bits of decorative work; and when she had
re-entered the big sunny south room again, and after a little more
loitering among the exhibits went to one of the windows and stood
looking down into the street, I, who had been standing near an
opposite window, was about to cross the room and accost her, when a
sudden shout from the street caused me to look out once more.

My window faced the bridge, and I saw that a chair-boy, coming too
hastily over the bridge with his freight, and perhaps unaccustomed to
his wheeled steed, had let slip his hold upon the handle at the back
of the chair just as he had reached the downward slope of the bridge