air,
and awakened impertinent echoes everywhere, Nature being always glad of
the opportunity. The young owner of the place was himself absorbed in
a warm haze of visions, like his own trees in the hush of the noon. Any
intrusion was disagreeable to him. Nevertheless, when he saw the rector
he came forward with that consciousness of the necessity of looking
pleased which is one of the vexations of a recluse. What did he mean by
bringing men here, where nobody wanted either them or him? But when he
saw who it was who accompanied the rector, Warrender's face and the line
of annoyance in his forehead softened a little; for Dick was one of the
men who are everywhere welcome. Warrender even smiled as he held out his
hand.

"You, Cavendish! Who could have thought of seeing you here?"

"I am afraid I am rather presuming: but I could not be so near
without coming to see you." Dick grew grave, as was incumbent in the
circumstances, and though he had no doubt whatever of seeing the ladies
added a sort of humble suggestion: "I am afraid I can scarcely hope to
pay my respects?"

"You must come in and see my mother," Warrender said.

The house, as has been said, looked its best when shade and coolness
were a necessity of the season; but the visitor who came with keen eyes,
observing everything, not because he had any special object, but because
he could not help it, took in in a moment the faded air of solid
respectability, the shabbiness which does not mean poverty, the decent
neglect, as of a place whose inhabitants took no thought of such small
matters, which showed everywhere. It was not neglect, in the ordinary
sense of the word, for all was carefully and nicely arranged, fresh
flowers on the tables, and signs of living--but rather a composed and
decorous content. The girls, as they were always called, were found,
Chatty with her hands full of flowers and a number of china vases before
her, standing at an old buffet in the hall, and Minnie just coming out
of the dining-room, where she had been doing her morning needle-work,
which was of a plain and homely description, not calculated to be seen
by visitors. The old buffet in the hall was not like the mahogany
catafalque in the other rooms, and the flowers were very fresh and the
china of unappreciated antiquity. Perhaps these accessories helped to
make the modest little picture of Charlotte arranging the flowers a
pretty one; and she was young and fresh and modest and unconsc