dispelled, or rather, for Barton, it already _was_ dispelled. The names
of Shields and Miss Marlett had told _him_ all that he needed to know.
But he would rather have heard the whole story from his lady's lips;
and Mrs. St. John Deloraine was mentally accusing Janey Harman of having
interrupted a "proposal," and spoiled a darling scheme.

It was therefore with a certain most unfamiliar sharpness that Mrs.
St John Deloraine, observing that the day was clouded over, requested
Margaret to return to the carriage.

"And as Miss Harman seems to have _a great deal_ to say to you,
Margaret," added the philanthropic lady, "you two had better walk on as
fast as you can; for _you_ must be very careful not to catch cold! I see
Miss Harman's maid waiting for her in the distance there. And you and I,
Mr. Barton, if you will give me your arm, will follow slower; I'm not a
good walker."

"_Now_," said Barton's companion eagerly, when Margaret and Janey,
about three yards in advance, might be conventionally regarded as beyond
earshot--"_Now_, Mr. Barton, am I to congratulate you?"

Barton gave a little shamefaced laugh, uneasily.

"I don't know--I hope so--I'm not sure."

"Oh, you're not satisfactory--not at all satisfactory. Are you _still_
shilly-shallying? What is the matter with young people?" cried the
veteran of twenty-nine. "Or was it that wretched Janey, rushing in, like
a cow in a conservatory? She's a regular school-girl!"

"It isn't that exactly, or at least that's not all. I hope--I think she
does care for me, or will care for me, a little."

"Oh, bother!" said Mrs. St John Deloraine. She would not, for all the
world, reveal the secrets of the confessional, and tell Barton what she
knew of the state of Margaret's heart But she was highly provoked, and
showed it in her manners, at no time applauded for their repose.

"The fact is," Barton admitted, "that I'm so taken by surprise I hardly
know where I am! I do think, if I may say so without seeming conceited,
that I have every reason to be happy. But, just as she was beginning to
tell me about herself, that young lady, who seems to have known her at
school, rushed in and explained the whole mystery."

"Well," said Mrs. Si John Deloraine, turning a little pale and looking
anxiously at Barton, "was it anything so very dreadful?"

"She called her Daisy Shields," said Barton.

"Well, I suppose she did! I always fancied, after what happened at _The
Bunhouse_, that tha