and my boots are not quite of the
right sort."

"They don't hurt you, I hope."

"Oh, no; they don't actually hurt me. They'll do very well for
to-day." And then there was a short pause, and they got on the green
grass which runs away into the chase in front of the parsonage
windows. I wonder whether wickets are ever standing there now on the
summer afternoons!

They were soon as much alone--or nearly so--as lovers might wish
to be; quite enough so for Caroline. Some curious eyes were still
peeping, no doubt, to see how the great lawyer looked when he was
walking with the girl of his heart; to see how the rich miser's
granddaughter looked when she was walking with the man of her
heart. And perhaps some voices were whispering that she had changed
her lover; for in these rural seclusions everything is known by
everybody. But neither the peepers nor the whisperers interfered with
the contentment of the fortunate pair.

"I hope you are happy, Caroline?" said Sir Henry, as he gently
squeezed the hand that was so gently laid upon his arm.

"Happy! oh yes--I am happy. I don't believe you know in a great deal
of very ecstatic happiness. I never did."

"But I hope you are rationally happy--not discontented--at any rate,
not regretful? I hope you believe that I shall do my best, my very
best, to make you happy?"

"Oh, yes; I quite believe that. We must each think of the other's
comfort. After all, that I take it is the great thing in married
life."

"I don't expect you to be passionately in love with me--not as yet,
Caroline."

"No. Let neither of us expect that, Sir Henry. Passionate love, I
take it, rarely lasts long, and is very troublesome while it does
last. Mutual esteem is very much more valuable."

"But, Caroline, I would have you believe in my love."

"Oh, yes; I do believe in it. Why else should you wish to marry me?
I think too well of myself to feel it strange that you should love
me. But love with you, and with me also for the future, will be
subordinate to other passions."

Sir Henry did not altogether like that reference to the past which
was conveyed in the word future; but, however, he bore it without
wincing.

"You know so thoroughly the history of the last three years," she
continued, "that it would be impossible for me to deceive you if I
could. But, if I know myself, under no circumstances would I have
done so. I have loved once, and no good has come of it. It was
contrary to my nature to