ant dreams. Now where
has he gone?--oh, to bully that plotting old woman. Well, I've done
right, I think; and now I'll have my stroll."

Frank Pratt started off to do what he called "a bit of melancholy
Jaques," in the pleasant woodland lanes; and was not long in finding an
agreeable perch, where he seated himself, lit his big pipe, and began
communing with himself till the pipe was smoked out; and then he sat on
and thought without it, till a coming light footstep took his attention.

"Now I make a solemn affidavit," he said, "that I did not come here to
play the spy upon anybody's actions. If they choose to come and act
under my very nose, why, I must see the play. Who's this?"

"This" proved to be little Polly, who walked quickly by him, glancing
suspiciously round as she continued her walk.

"Scene the first!" said Pratt; "enter village maiden with flowers. To
her village lover," he continued as a heavy step was heard. "No, by
Jove! it's Dick."

He was right, for Trevor came along at a swinging pace, and apparently
in a few moments he would overtake the girl.

"If I didn't believe Dick Trevor to be as open as the day, how
suspicious that would look!" thought Pratt.

Trevor passed on without seeing him, and then there was a pause. The
sun's rays darted through the overhanging boughs; birds flitted and sang
their little love songs overhead; and in a half-dreamy way Pratt sat
thinking upon his perch till voices and coming footsteps once more
aroused him.

"It's them!" he said to himself. "I'll go."

He made as if to descend, but it struck him that he should be seen if he
moved, and he sat still watching--to see at the end of a few moments
Tiny Rea coming along the footpath, evidently looking agitated as she
walked on in advance.

"She's never seen Dick and her together!" Pratt said, mentally; and he
felt as if he could have run and spoken to the girl; but that which next
met his eyes made him utter a low, deep sigh, and he looked as if made
of the mossy stone upon which he sat, as Fin Rea followed her sister,
hanging on Mr Mervyns arm, and gazing eagerly in his face, while he
evidently told her something which was of interest.

They passed slowly by, as if in no hurry to overtake Tiny; and Pratt
watched them till quite out of sight, when he got down in a heavy,
stunned fashion, to go slowly farther and farther into the wood, where
he threw himself down amongst the ferns, and buried his face in his