that Mr. Wayne
should fall in love with Mrs. Verdon. The match would be approved by
everybody, and Elsie's judgment just then was not clear enough to see
that the matches approved by everybody are precisely those which seldom
take place.

It was jealousy--ugly, plain, unconquerable jealousy--which was
tormenting Elsie now. It is a dreadful moment when a woman looks deep
into her innermost self and catches the gleam of a fierce fire burning
there.

She looked out again at the shining water, and drew in deep breaths of
pure air. The freshness of the streams was in the atmosphere; all around
was the intense greenness of water-fed grass.

What a sweet old earth it was, after all! Green pastures and still
waters were to be found by all who let the angels guide them. It is our
own fault always if we enter the barren and dry land where no water is.

The old trunk on which she sat was close to the edge of the water.
Overhead the spreading boughs of an elm protected her from the sun; a
little bird, hidden among the leaves, gave out a clear note now and
then. Elsie, feeling a sense of comfort stealing into her heart
unawares, began to listen to the bird. The bunch of carnations lay upon
her knee.

A rustling in the grasses near made her start. Arnold Wayne was coming
down the slope of the bank to the spot where she was sitting.

"What a charming nook you have discovered!" he said, his brown face
lighting up with pleasure at the sight of her. "I have been to Willow
Farm to seek you."

"How did you know that I was here?" Elsie asked as she gave him her
hand.

"Mrs. Lennard was standing at a window upstairs when you went out. She
watched you cross the field and go down to the river. I heard that you
arrived last night."

"Yes," said Elsie, a contented look coming into her brown eyes. "It is
delicious to get away from London, delicious to tread on cool grass
instead of hot paving-stones."

"And you are going to stay in Rushbrook a long time. Mrs. Lennard has
been telling me all her plans. The rector is coming here on his return
from Switzerland, and then you will all pay the long-promised visit to
the Court."

"We shall see," Elsie returned, with a little air of gravity. "The
present is so lovely that I don't care to look into the future, Mr.
Wayne. I am charmed with the river. I like to smell the damp, fresh
scent of the sedges."

"I'm glad it does you good," he answered, rather absently. "You have
some fine carnat