ht sight of him as she came down the steps of Upton
House. He was walking quickly down the street, and evidently perceived
her at once. There would be no chance of escaping him, so she walked
slowly on, quite aware that he would overtake her in another minute.
As they were to part so soon, she must put up with his escort. Of
course he had been to Beulah Place, and was now in search of her; poor
foolish boy!

The next moment she heard his footstep behind her.

"Miss Davenport, this is too delightful," and his handsome face wore a
look of pleased eagerness. "I thought I should have to wait some time,
from Fern's account, but I have not been here a moment. There is no
hurry, is there?" checking her pace as Crystal seemed inclined to walk
fast.

"We are busy people, Mr. Trafford," she answered, pleasantly, "and can
never afford to walk slowly. Why did you not wait with your sister?
You have not seen her for a long time."

"Has it seemed a long time to you?" he returned, with quick emphasis.
"I wish I could believe that you had missed me, that you had even
given me a thought during my absence;" and he looked wistfully at the
girl as he spoke.

"I am sure your mother and Fern missed you," she replied, evasively.
She wanted to keep him in good humor, and avoid any dangerous topics.
She would like to leave him, if possible, with some kindly memory of
this interview. In spite of his sins against her, she could not
altogether harden her heart against Fern's brother.

Any stranger meeting these two young people would have regarded them
as a perfectly matched couple. Percy's refined aristocratic face and
distinguished carriage made a splendid foil for Crystal's dark beauty
and girlish grace. As Percy's eyes rested on her they scarcely noticed
the shabby dress she wore. He was thinking as usual that he had never
seen any one to compare with this young governess; and he wondered, as
he had wondered a hundred times before, if her mother had been an
Englishwoman; his mother would never tell him anything about Miss
Davenport, except that she was of good birth and an orphan.

"Did you bring Mr. Huntingdon with you?" she asked, rather hurriedly,
for she was quite aware of the fixed look that always annoyed her. The
admiration of men was odious to her now the only eyes she had cared to
please would never look at her again.

"Do you mean Erle?" was the careless answer. "Oh, no, my dearly
beloved cousin has other game to bring down