th
an upward, outward yearning, and it has become that which it seemed
impossible ever to become. There, does that satisfy you?" she asked,
looking down at Gregory. "Is that how you like me to talk?"

"Oh, yes," said Gregory, "that is what I have already thought. We have
the same thoughts about everything. How strange!"

"Very," said Lyndall, working with her little toe at a stone in the
ground before her.

Gregory felt he must sustain the conversation. The only thing he could
think of was to recite a piece of poetry. He knew he had learnt many
about love; but the only thing that would come into his mind now was the
"Battle of Hohenlinden," and "Not a drum was heard," neither of which
seemed to bear directly on the subject on hand.

But unexpected relief came to him from Doss, who, too deeply lost in
contemplation of his crevice, was surprised by the sudden descent of
the stone Lyndall's foot had loosened, which, rolling against his little
front paw, carried away a piece of white-skin. Doss stood on three legs,
holding up the paw with an expression of extreme self-commiseration; he
then proceeded to hop slowly upward in search of sympathy.

"You have hurt that dog," said Gregory.

"Have I?" she replied indifferently, and re-opened the book, as though
to resume her study of the play.

"He's a nasty, snappish little cur!" said Gregory, calculating from her
manner that the remark would be endorsed. "He snapped at my horse's tail
yesterday, and nearly made it throw me. I wonder his master didn't take
him, instead of leaving him here to be a nuisance to all of us!"

Lyndall seemed absorbed in her play; but he ventured another remark.

"Do you think now, Miss Lyndall, that he'll ever have anything in the
world--that German. I mean--money enough to support a wife on, and all
that sort of thing? I don't. He's what I call soft."

She was spreading her skirt out softly with her left hand for the dog to
lie down on it.

"I think I should be rather astonished if he ever became a respectable
member of society," she said. "I don't expect to see him the possessor of
bank-shares, the chairman of a divisional council, and the father of
a large family; wearing a black hat, and going to church twice on a
Sunday. He would rather astonish me if he came to such an end."

"Yes; I don't expect anything of him either," said Gregory, zealously.

"Well, I don't know," said Lyndall; "there are some small things I
rather look to him