re here
first. It is nice and cool."

Hope hurried away on his errand, and Mary was still looking after him,
when she heard horses' feet, and up came Walter Clifford, escaped from
his father. He slipped off his horse directly at sight of Mary, and they
came together like steel and magnet.

"Oh, Walter," said Mary, "we are not so unfortunate as we were just now.
We have a powerful friend. Where are you going in such hurry?"

"That is a good joke. Why, did you not order me to the lakes?"

"Oh yes, for Julia's bracelet. I forgot all about that."

"Very likely; but it is not my business to forget your orders."

"Dear Walter! But, dearest, things of more importance have happened since
then. We have been insulted. Oh, how we have been insulted!"

"That we have," said Walter.

"And nobody knows the truth."

"Not yet."

"And our secret oppresses me--torments me--degrades me."

"Pray don't say that."

"Forgive me. I can't help saying it, I feel it so bitterly. Now, dear, I
will walk a little way with you, and tell you what I want you to do this
very day; and you will be a darling, as you always are, and consent."

Then Mary told how Mr. Hope had just shown her singular affection; next
she reminded him of the high tone Mr. Hope had taken with her father in
their hearing. "Why," said she, "there is some mysterious compact about
me between papa and him. I don't think I shall ever have the courage to
ask him about that compact, for then I must confess that I listened; but
it is clear we can depend upon Mr. Hope, and trust him. So now, dear, I
want you to indulge your little wife, and let me take Mr. Hope into our
confidence."

To Mary's surprise and disappointment, Walter's countenance fell.

"I don't know," said he, after a pause. "Unfortunately it's not Mr.
Bartley only that's against us."

"Well, but, dear," said Mary, "the more people there are against us, the
more we need one powerful friend and champion. Now you know Mr. Hope is a
man that everybody loves and respects, even your father."

Walter just said, gloomily, "I see objections, for all that; but do as
you please."

Mary's tender heart and loving nature couldn't accept an unwilling
assent. She turned her eyes on Walter a little reproachfully. "That's the
way to make me do what you please."

"I don't intend it so," said Walter. "When a husband and wife love each
other as we do, they must give in to each other."

"That's not what we said at the alt