d him at a later date. The letter was read at
the tea table, and Miss Du Plessis said she knew Marion Graves very
well, and was glad to think she would be so near, as she was a lovely
girl; but what a strange thing for Mr. Coristine to recommend her to
come to Flanders! "Oi'm thinkin'," remarked Mr. Terry, "that av the
young lady in dilikit loike, it 'ud be a marcy to kape her aff that
rough stage; so, iv yer willin', Squoire, I'll shtay at home an' lave my
place to put the poor lady in inshtid av me." Mrs. Carruthers would not
hear of the veteran's losing the drive, and resigned her seat. Honoria
would probably want her at any rate, so it was very foolish and selfish
in her to have thought of going. "There maun be some one o' the female
persuasion, as good old Newberry calls it, to invite Miss Graves and to
keep her company, especially if she's an invalid," said the Squire. "I
will go, uncle," said Miss Carmichael, quietly. The uncle was amazed at
this new turn things were taking, and arranged in his mind to have Miss
Graves and Mr. Douglas with him in the front seat, and Coristine between
the two Marjories behind. After tea, Timotheus and Maguffin were sent to
invite Miss Halbert and the two clergymen to the Saturday evening
dinner, but, by Mrs. Carruthers' directions, the postmistress was not
notified that her rooms were wanted. If Miss Graves were all that Cecile
said of her, she had remarked, she would be better at Bridesdale, and
would also be an acceptable addition to the number of their guests.

Saturday morning was a time of wild excitement for Marjorie. She went to
the brook by anticipation, to look at the sportive fish, and turned up a
flat stone or two, to be sure the crawfish, which the ignorant Timotheus
called crabs, were still there. She was prepared to report favourably on
the creek. Then she journeyed along the banks, looking for new flowers,
and over the stepping stones to the opposite shore, and up the hill to
the strip of brush, returning with a handful of showy wild blossoms.
Next, she visited the stable yard, and watched Timotheus and Maguffin
polishing up the waggonette and the harness of the horses. The colonel
was there, and, in answer to Marjorie's enquiry regarding his interest
in the scene, said: "You are not going to leave me behind, you little
puss, although you did not invite me. I have invited myself, and am
going to accompany you on hohseback."

"Are you going to take Guff too, colonel?