c observance.

Few of those who took part in it cared much about its origin. The young
people enjoyed the amusement of dancing and singing, and their elders
their holiday and relaxation from business.

Dame Lanreath and Nelly had disposed of all their fish before the Flurry
dance began; they thus had ample time to watch what was going forward,
Nelly kept close to her grandmother, although she met several of her
acquaintances, who stopped to have a talk, and she might easily, had she
not been on the watch, have lost her in the crowd.

In the evening the grander people were to have a ball at the Town Hall;
but as the dame and Nelly took no interest in watching the ladies in
their gay dresses stepping from their carriages, they, having seen
enough of the Flurry dance to satisfy their curiosity, set out in
company with several of their friends on their walk homeward.

They were just leaving the town, when Eban Cowan overtook Nelly, who was
in company with another girl a short distance behind Dame Lanreath.

"Nelly," said Eban, "I was in a great fright lest I should miss you.
You are going away without seeing half the fun of the day; the people
are only just getting into the spirit of the dance. I wanted you to
take off that creel and have a turn with me. Among all the fine ladies
there is not one can compare with you for beauty in my eyes, and many a
lad there would have been jealous of me, in spite of the white dresses
and bright flowers of the girls."

Nelly laughed, thinking that Eban was joking. Her companion, who
believed the common report, that Eban Cowan was an admirer of Nelly
Trefusis, and that she encouraged him, dropped behind and joined another
party, and Eban and Nelly were left alone.

He at once changed his tone, which showed that he was deeply in earnest.

"Nelly," he said, "I have sought you for long years, and however others
may admire you, they cannot care for you as I do--my love surpasses
theirs a hundredfold. I can give you a comfortable home, and make you
equal to any of the fine ladies we have been watching to-day. You need
no longer carry that creel on your back, and slave as you have been
doing, if you will become my wife. I tell you that I love you more than
life itself, and ask you, will you marry me?"

Nelly would willingly have stopped Eban from talking on, but had
hitherto been unable to get in a word.

"I have known you, Eban Cowan, since I way a girl, but I have never for
o