ad never
experienced before--even when she took Reuben's note from the pages of
Manzini or hid her own there--she arose, and, protesting that her father
would never breakfast in her absence, and that she should be roundly
scolded for being so late, she put on her hat and gloves, kissed Aunt
Rachel's cold cheek, and ran out into the lane with blushes so charming
and becoming that she might have been taken for the very humanized
spirit of the dawn, lingering an hour or two beyond her time to make
acquaintance with daylight. If this simile should seem to border on the
ridiculous, the responsibility of it may be safely thrown upon Reuben,
who not merely met her with it in his mind, but conveyed it to her as
they walked homeward together. Ezra was even more bashful than Ruth,
though in him the sentiment wrought less attractive tokens of itself.

"I'll walk about a little while farther," he said, awkwardly, when he
had bidden Ruth good-morning; and without need to watch him, they
knew that he had walked no farther than Rachel's cottage. The girl, on
leaving it, had neglected to close the door, and the old maid had not
dared to rise. He stood in the open door-way, and it gave him a mute
invitation to enter, though he had not courage to accept it. He knocked
faintly once or twice, and by-and-by was aware of a movement in the
parlor. He turned towards the door and saw it open slowly, and Rachel
looked out at him, trembling from head to foot, with signs of tears in
her face.

"Miss Blythe," he began, shakily, "I trust all ill-feelin' is at an end
between us. May an old friend exchange a word with you?"

"Pray come in," said Miss Blythe, in a frightened whisper; and he
entered. "Will you take a seat?" she asked him.

"Rachel," he said, "I was to blame, but never as you thought. But I kept
single for your sake, Rachel."

By what wonderful alchemy of nature the withered heart grew young
again at that moment, Heaven knows; but it was out of a heart suddenly
impassioned and warm with youth that she answered him,

"And I will keep single for yours."

CHAPTER XIV.

Ferdinand, in obedience to the call of the political situation, had
absented himself from Heydon Hay for a week or two. The Liberals had
put into the field a stronger man than he had expected to encounter, and
there was a sudden awakening in the constitutional camp. He had to go
the rounds and visit his bandsmen, and without being particularly
alert himself to