's eyes could be, and if you gave a gentle cough, I would
promptly clutch hold of auntie, and insist upon being guided in the
opposite direction. And I would take her out in the motor; and you and
the young man could have the gig. And then when all was satisfactorily
settled, we could pack them off home, and be by ourselves again. Ah,
Miss Gray, do send for them, instead of leaving me on Thursday."

"Mr. Dalmain," said Nurse Rosemary, reprovingly, as she leaned forward
and touched his right hand with the rim of his saucer, "this May-Day
morning has gone to your head. I shall send for Margery. She may have
known the symptoms, of old."

"It is not that," said Garth. He leaned forward and spoke
confidentially. "Something is going to happen to-day, little Rosemary.
Whenever I feel like this, something happens. The first time it
occurred, about twenty-five years ago, there was a rocking-horse in the
hall, when I ran downstairs! I have never forgotten my first ride on
that rocking-horse. The fearful joy when he went backward; the awful
plunge when he went forward; and the proud moment when it was possible
to cease clinging to the leather pommel. I nearly killed the cousin who
pulled out his tail. I thrashed him, then and there, WITH the tail;
which was such a silly thing to do; because, though it damaged the
cousin, it also spoiled the tail. The next time--ah, but I am boring
you!"

"Not at all," said Nurse Rosemary, politely; "but I want you to have
some breakfast; and the letters will be here in a few minutes."

He looked so brown and radiant, this dear delightful boy, with his
gold-brown tie, and yellow rose. She was conscious of her pallor, and
oppressive earnestness, as she said: "The letters will be here."

"Oh, bother the letters!" cried Garth. "Let's have a holiday from
letters on May Day! You shall be Queen of the May; and Margery shall be
the old mother. I will be Robin, with the breaking heart, leaning on
the bridge beneath the hazel tree; and Simpson can be the 'bolder lad.'
And we will all go and 'gather knots of flowers, and buds, and garlands
gay.'"

"Mr. Dalmain," said Nurse Rosemary, laughing, in spite of herself, "you
really must be sensible, or I shall go and consult Margery. I have
never seen you in such a mood."

"You have never seen me, on a day when something was going to happen,"
said Garth; and Nurse Rosemary made no further attempt to repress him.

After breakfast, he went to the piano, and