ing in his look
checked her, and she stood hesitating and coloring as he came up to
her and offered his arm.

"Ellerton has announced dinner," he said, quietly; "draw your scarf
round you, for the Hall is cold. You look very nice, dear," he
continued, kindly, looking at the dainty little bit of loveliness
beside him with critically approving eyes; "you should always wear
white in the evening, Fay;" and then, as they entered the dining-room,
he placed her at the head of the table.

Poor child, it seemed all very solemn and stately, with Ellerton and
two other footmen to wait on them; to be divided from her husband by
silver epergnes and choice flowers, to have to peep between the ferns
and flowers for a sight of the golden-brown beard. No wonder her
little talk died away, and she stammered in her replies, and then
blushed and felt discomposed. She thought she was playing her part
very awkwardly, and was ashamed of herself for Hugh's sake, never
dreaming that the very servants who waited on her were wondering at
the radiant young creature. Everything comes to an end in this world,
and so did this ordeal; for after what seemed to her endless courses,
the door closed on the retiring servants, and she and her husband were
left alone together; and when Sir Hugh woke up from a brief musing fit
he found Fay at his end of the table watching him.

"Why! what brings you here, Wee Wifie?" he asked, smiling; "have you
finished your grapes--am I keeping you waiting?"

"Oh! I am in no hurry," she returned, calmly. "I am going to enjoy my
grapes here; it is so dull at the other end of the table;" and she
chattered merrily to him, while Hugh drank his coffee, and then coaxed
him up into the "blue nestie."

Hugh took all her thanks very graciously. He was pleased that her
innocent tastes should be gratified; he never imagined for a moment
that she thought he had chosen all the pretty knickknacks round them.

He had said everything suitable to a lady's boudoir was to be
provided, and the people had done it very well. He had given them
_carte blanche_, and it was certainly a very pretty little room; and
then he watched Fay presiding over her tea-table, and listened
placidly to her ecstasy over the lovely old china cups, and the dear
little antiquated silver cream-jug, and the tiny spoons; and for a
little while her brightness infected him. But presently, when she came
and nestled against him and told him how happy she was, and how d