two heavy-headed, lolloping, half-grown,
bull-dog puppies describe crazy circles upon the smooth turf in the
deepening dusk. Seen thus in the half-light they appeared more than
ever gnome-like, humorously ugly and awkward. They trod on their own
ears, tumbled over one another, sprawled on the grass, panting and
grinning, until their ecstatic owner incited them to further gyrations.
To Dick this was a night of unbridled licence. Had he not dined late?
Had he not leave to sit up till half-past ten o'clock? Was he not going
out, bright and early, to-morrow morning to see the horses galloped?
Could life hold greater complement of good for a brave, little,
ten-year-old soul, and slender, serviceable, little, ten-year-old body
emulous of all manly virtues and manly pastimes?

So the boy laughed; and the sound of his laughter reached the ears both
of the elder and the younger Lady Calmady, as they slowly paced the
straight walk between the gray balustrade and the edge of the turf. On
their left the great outstretch of valley and wood lay drowned in the
suave uncertainties of the summer night. Before them was the whole
terrace-front of the house, its stacks of twisted chimneys clear cut
against the sky. Bright light shone out from the windows of the red
drawing-room, and from those of the hall, bringing flowers, sections of
gray pavement, and like details into sharp relief. There were passing
lights in the range of windows above, suggesting cheerful movement
within the great house. At the southern end of the terrace, just below
the arcade of the garden-hall--which showed pale against the shadow
within and brickwork above--two men were sitting. Their voices reached
the ladies now and then in quiet yet animated talk. A spirit of peace,
of security, of firmly-planted hope, seemed to pervade all the scene,
all the place. Waking or sleeping, fear was banished. All was strong to
work to-morrow, so to-night all could calmly yield itself to rest.

And it was a sense of just this, and a tender anxiety lest the fulness
of the gracious content of it should be in any degree marred to her
dear companion, which made Honoria Calmady say presently:--

"You don't mind little Dick's racketting with those ridiculous puppies,
do you, Cousin Katherine? If it bothers you I'll stop him like a shot."

But Katherine shook her head.

"My dearest child, why stop him?" she said. "The foolishnesses of young
creatures at play are delicious, and laughter