while Booty pattered after it, barking with glee. 'Don't you remember De
Quincey's observation?' And as Audrey shook her head, for she never
remembered quotations, he went on: 'He declares that it is a true and
feeling remark of Dr. Johnson's, that we never do anything consciously
for the last time (of things, that is to say, which we have long been in
the habit of doing) without sadness of heart.'

'I think he is right;' and Audrey bent over the low parapet to watch a
sudden scrimmage below.

Booty was frisking among the boulders, and the ducks, evidently ruffled
in their feelings, were swimming under the bridge, quacking a loud,
indignant protest. Even ducks lose their tempers sometimes, and the
angry flourish of their tails and the pouting of their soft necks and
their open bills showed keen remonstrance and utter vexation of spirit.

'Booty, come here, and leave those ducks in peace;' and then, while
Michael threw another pebble or two, she sat asking herself if she felt
this sadness. Was she glad or sorry to know that to-morrow they would be
on their way to Rutherford?--would it not be a matter of regret if their
return were to be suddenly postponed? She had been very happy here; she
had seen so much of her father and Michael; but----Here Audrey brought
her inward questioning to an abrupt end.

'It has been a nice time, Michael,' she said gently--'a very nice time
indeed.'

'Look here! I wish you would substitute another adjective,' he
remonstrated, quite seriously. '"Nice" is such an insipid, sugary sort
of word: it has no sort of character about it. Now, if you had said "a
good old time----"'

'And have drawn down a reproof on myself for talking slang.'

'Well, "a glorious time,"' he corrected--'shall we say that instead? You
have enjoyed it, have you not?' with one of his searching looks.

'Oh yes; I have never enjoyed myself more. And, Michael'--her love of
mischief predominating--'I do believe we have not quarrelled once.'

'You have been such a brick, you know, and have given in to me in
everything. Somehow,' continued Michael, throwing up a pebble and
catching it again, 'if people give in to me, I am remarkably
sweet-tempered. We were very near a quarrel once, I remember, but it
never came to anything. It was a hot afternoon, I think, and we were
both sleepy.'

'I cannot say I remember it.'

'Well, let it pass. I am in that sort of magnanimous mood that I am
ready to pronounce absolution on all