ctions.

"To reward you I will come out here every morning and spend the whole
day with you."

"Oh, that will be heavenly! I should be willing to live in a cave on
such delightful conditions!"

"But mind, my dearest one, you must not come to see me at my
boarding-house, or try to meet me, or to speak to me, after to-day,
anywhere where I am known," added Mrs. Grey, gravely.

"Oh, that seems very hard!" sighed the victim, with a look of grief,
almost of suspicion.

"Why should it seem hard, when I tell you that I will come out here
every morning to spend the whole day with you?" inquired Mrs. Grey.

"But why, then, can I not go home with you and spend the whole evening
in your company at your boarding-house?" pleaded the poor fellow.

"Because we should have no comfort at all in a whole parlor full of
company, as there is at the Misses Cranes' every evening. And because we
should be talked about in that gossiping boarding-house circle. And,
finally, because I should much rather stay with you alone here in this
house, where there is no one to criticise us, as late every evening as I
possibly can, and let you walk home with me and leave me at the door at
bed-time. Now don't you think mine the better plan?"

"Oh, yes, indeed, if you really will spend the evenings with me also!"

"Why, certainly I will! And now let us walk on to church. And mind, you
must leave me at the church door and find a seat for yourself, while I
go to mine. After church I will come out here with you again and sit
with you all the evening. I have no doubt the good woman at the rustic
inn down the road will give us tea, as she gave us dinner," said the
beauty, as she arose and slipped her hand within her companion's arm.

They left the house together and walked on to the church.

And the programme for the afternoon and evening was carried on according
to the beautiful schemer's arrangement.

After the services were concluded they walked out to the suburban inn,
where the simple-minded hostess willingly agreed to furnish tea for such
a pious church-going brother and sister.

And when they had had this tea, Mary Grey, to beguile the landlady, took
her willing captive for a walk further out toward the country; and then
returning by a roundabout route, came to the vacant road-side cottage,
where, as the September evening was very warm, they sat under the
vine-clad porch until ten o'clock.

Then they walked back to the town together.

Crav