laugh. "On the whole, perhaps you had
better be relegated to the nursery; it will, at any rate, be more
amusing to you that the society of a morose old fellow like myself.
And, besides, I am very irregular in my habits. Angela, you are
staring at me again; I should be so very much obliged if you would
look the other way. I only hope, Heigham, that old Pigott won't talk
your head off; she has got a dreadful tongue. Well, don't let me keep
you any longer; it is a lovely day for the time of year. Try to amuse
yourself somehow, and I hope for your sake that Angela will not occupy
herself with you as she does with me, by staring as though she wished
to examine your brains and backbone. Good-by for the present."

"What does he mean?" asked Arthur, as soon as they were fairly outside
the door, "about your staring at him?"

"Mean!" answered poor Angela, who looked as though she were going to
cry. "I wish I could tell you; all I know is that he cannot bear me to
look at him--he is always complaining of it. That is why we do not
take our meals together--at least, I believe it is. He detests my
being near him. I am sure I don't know why; it makes me very unhappy.
I cannot see anything different in my eyes from anybody else's, can
you?" and she turned them, swimming as they were with tears of
mortification, full upon Arthur.

He scrutinized their depths very closely, so closely indeed, that
presently she turned them away again with a blush.

"Well," she said, "I am sure you have looked long enough. Are they
different?"

"Very different," replied the oracle, with enthusiasm.

"How?"

"Well, they--they are larger."

"Is that all?"

"And they are deeper."

"Deeper--that is nothing. I want to know if they produce any
unpleasant effect upon you--different from other people's eyes, I
mean?"

"Well, if you ask me, I am afraid that your eyes do produce a strange
effect upon me, but I cannot say that it is an unpleasant one. But you
did not look long enough for me to form a really sound opinion. Let us
try again."

"No, I will not; and I do believe that you are laughing at me. I think
that is very unkind;" and she marched on in silence.

"Don't be angry with me, or I shall be miserable. I really was not
laughing at you; only, if you knew what wonderful eyes you have got,
you would not ask such ridiculous questions about them. Your father
must be a strange man to get such ideas. I am sure I should be
delighted if you woul