ch her, to take her in
his arms--that longing of passionate love which he had never felt
before--rose imperiously in his heart; but something restrained him. She
was so young, so innocent and girlish that a kind of awe fell upon him.
When, as she walked beside him, the sleeve of her jacket came in contact
with his arm, a thrill ran through him, and he caught his breath.

But he would hold himself in check; not at this moment, when she was
startled by his sudden appearance, would he tell her. It was more than
likely that he would frighten her, and that she would fly from him.

"And is there any news?" he asked.

She looked up as if she had come from a reverie.

"News! There is never any news at Shorne Mills!" she said, smiling
brightly. "Nothing ever happens. Dick has shot some rabbits--and there
was a good catch of mackerel yesterday, and--that's all."

Her eyes shone up at him, and he looked into their depths. "I wish I'd
been here," he said. "But perhaps they'll have another big catch."

"Are you going to stay?"

The question sprang from her lips almost before she knew it, and she bit
them a moment after the words were spoken; for it seemed to her that he
must have noticed the eagerness, the anxiety in the query; but Drake
only thought that she had asked with some surprise.

"A--a little while," he replied.

"Mamma and Dick will be very pleased," she said, in as matter-of-fact a
tone as she could.

"I wired to Mrs. Brownie, asking her if she could put me up--old Brownie
lets some rooms, he told me----"

Her face fell for a moment.

"You are not coming to us--to The Cottage?" she said cheerily.

"No; I couldn't trespass upon Mrs. Lorton's hospitality," he replied.

"I hope you will be comfortable----" She hesitated. "Mrs. Brownie's
cottage is very small and----"

"Oh, I'm used to roughing it," he cut in; "and perhaps, when I find it
too small, you will let me come up and see you----"

"In our palatial mansion--for a change."

She was bright again, and her eyes were sparkling. After all, though he
would not be under the same roof, he would be near--would be in Shorne
Mills.

"I think I'll go down to Mrs. Brownie's and see if it is all right, and
then come up for a cup of tea, if I may," he said, as they neared The
Cottage.

He opened the gate for her; she gave him a little nod, her sweet face
radiant with the new-born happiness which suffused her whole being, and
ran in.

"Mamma--guess who has