w that one
quotation may stand for much knowledge.

"I will, with pleasure," said Godfrey, perhaps a little consoled in the
midst of his disappointment; and they walked away, neither taking
notice of Letty.

"I did not know," she said to herself, "that the two houses had come
together at last! What a handsome couple they make!"

What passed between them is scarcely worthy of record. It is enough to
say that Sepia found her companion distrait, and he felt her a little
invasive. In a short while they came back together, and Sepia saw Letty
under the great bough of the Durnmelling oak. Godfrey handed her down
the rent, careful himself not to invade Durnmelling with a single foot.
She ran home, and up to a certain window with her opera-glass. But the
branches and foliage of the huge oak would have concealed pairs and
pairs of lovers.

Godfrey turned toward Letty. She had not stirred.

"What a beautiful creature Miss Yolland is!" she said, looking up with
a smile of welcome, and a calmness that prevented the slightest
suspicion of a flattering jealousy.

"I was coming to _you_," returned Godfrey. "I never saw her till her
head came up over the ha-ha.--Yes, she is beautiful--at least, she has
good eyes."

"They are splendid! What a wife she would make for you, Cousin Godfrey!
I should like to see such a two."

Letty was beyond the faintest suggestion of coquetry. Her words drove a
sting to the heart of Godfrey. He turned pale. But not a word would he
have spoken then, had not Letty in her innocence gone on to torture
him. She sprang from the ground.

"Are you ill, Cousin Godfrey?" she cried in alarm, and with that sweet
tremor of the voice that shows the heart is near. "You are quite
white!--Oh, dear! I've said something I oughtn't to have said! What can
it be? Do forgive me, Cousin Godfrey." In her childlike anxiety she
would have thrown her arms round his neck, but her hands only reached
his shoulders. He drew back: such was the nature of the man that every
sting tasted of offense. But he mastered himself, and in his turn,
alarmed at the idea of having possibly hurt her, caught her hands in
his. As they stood regarding each other with troubled eyes, the
embankment of his prudence gave way, and the stored passion broke out.

"You don't _mean_ you would like to see me married, Letty?" he groaned.

"Yes, indeed, I do, Cousin Godfrey! You would make such a lovely
husband!"

"Ah! I thought as much! I knew you nev