character, was
sorry for him, little thinking that his returning vivacity under her
genial influence smote Coristine's heart, as the evidence of double
disloyalty on the lady's part, to her friend, Miss Du Plessis, and to
him. Tiring of her single-handed work, she turned to Mr. Bigglethorpe,
saying: "You know Mr. Lamb, do you not!" The fisherman answered: "You
were kind enough to introduce us last night, Miss Carmichael, but you
will, I hope, pardon me for saying that I do not approve of Mr. Lamb."
Then he turned away, and conversed with the Captain. When the company
rose, the only person who approached the civil servant was the colonel,
who said: "I pehsume, suh, aftah what my kind friend, Mr. Cohistine, has
spoken so well, you will not annoy my niece with any moah remahks about
her propehty. It would please that lady and me, as her guahdian, if you
will fohget Miss Du Plessis' existence, suh, so fah as you are
concehned." This was chilling, but chill did not hurt Mr. Lamb. The
little Carruthers, headed by Marjorie, were in front of the verandah
when Miss Carmichael and he went out. Marjorie had evidently been
schooling them, for, at her word of command, they began to sing, to the
tune of "Little Bo Peep," the original words:--

Poor Orther Lom,
He looks so glom.

Miss Carmichael seized her namesake and shook her. "You naughty, wicked
little girl, how dare you? Who taught you these shameful words?" she
asked, boiling with indignation. Marjorie cried a little for vexation,
but would not reveal the name of the author. Some said it was the
doctor, and others, that it was his daughter Fanny; but Miss Carmichael
was sure that the lawyer, Marjorie's great friend, Eugene, was the
guilty party, that he ought to be ashamed of himself, and that the
sooner he left Bridesdale the better. Coristine was completely innocent
of the awful crime, which lay in the skirts of Marjorie's father, the
Captain, as might have been suspected from the beauty of the couplet.
The consequence of the poetic surprise was the exclusive attachment of
Miss Carmichael to the Crown Lands man, in a long walk in the garden, a
confidential talk, and the present of a perfectly beautiful button-hole
pinned in by her own hands.

CHAPTER XVII.

The Picnic--Treasure Trove--A Substantial Ghost
Captured--Coristine's Farewell--Ride to Collingwood--Bangs Secures
Rawdon--Off to Toronto--Coristine Meets the Captain--Grief at
Br