ce.

But as Stretton lifted his hat and turned to leave her, she noticed how
white and wan he looked.

"Mr. Stretton," she said, imperiously, "please to sit down. You are not
to attempt that long, hot walk again just now. Besides, you must wait to
see my uncle. Sit down, please. Now, tell me, you have been ill lately,
have you not?"

"Yes," said Stretton, seating himself as she bade him, and answering
meekly. "I had brain fever more than a year ago at the monastery of San
Stefano, and my recovery was a slow one."

"I know the Prior of San Stefano--Padre Cristoforo. Do you remember
him?"

"Yes. He was very good to me. I was there for twelve months or more. He
gave me work to do in the school."

"Will you mention that to my uncle? He is very fond of Padre
Cristoforo."

"I thought," said Stretton, colouring a little, and almost as though he
were excusing himself, "that it would be useless to give the name of a
Romanist Prior as a referee to Mr. Heron. Most people would think it an
objection in itself?"

"Why not give English names, then?" said Elizabeth.

"Because I have no English friends."

There was a little silence. Stretton was leaning back in his seat,
looking quietly out to sea; Elizabeth was sitting erect, with her hands
crossed on her lap. Presently she spoke, but without turning her head.

"Mr. Stretton, I do not want you to think my remarks impertinent or
uncalled for. I must tell you first that I am in a somewhat unusual
position. My aunt is an invalid, and does not like to be troubled about
the children; my uncle hates to decide anything for himself. They have
fallen into the habit--the unlucky habit for me--of referring many
practical matters to my decision, and, therefore, you will understand
that my uncle came to me on his return from the inn this morning and
told me what you had said. I want to explain all this, so that you may
see how it is that I have heard it so quickly. No one else knows."

"You are very good," said Stretton, feeling his whole heart strengthened
and warmed by this frank explanation. "I think you must see how great a
drawback my absence of recommendations is likely to be to me."

"Yes," said Elizabeth, seriously, "I do. But if you cannot overcome it
in this case, how are you going to overcome it at all?"

"I don't know, Miss Heron."

"You said that you wished to take pupils," Elizabeth went on, too much
interested in the subject to notice the mistake made in her name;