e ungrateful, but when
a woman comes to marry she must choose for herself as I have done; and
I am happy, dear, and proud of my choice--proud to have won the true
love of a true man; only do not think I am ungrateful. And if this
must be good-bye, do not let us part like this--for my sake and your
sake and the sake of my--husband."

Lady Warburton had turned away, and there ensued a somewhat
embarrassing pause.

"Elizabeth," she said suddenly, "if I don't mistake, somebody is frying
bacon somewhere, and I'm ravenously hungry."

"So am I," cried the Imp.

"And so am I," Dorothy chimed in.

"Then suppose we have breakfast," I suggested, and in almost less time
than it takes to tell I was leading the way across the green with Lady
Warburton on my arm--actually leaning on my arm. It all happened so
quickly that Heaven and Lisbeth alone know how she got there.

And now who so surprised to see us as honest Amos Baggett, ushering us
with many bows and smiles into the Sanded Parlour, where breakfast was
soon ready; and who so quick and dexterous in attending to our wants as
the rosy-cheeked chambermaid?

And what a breakfast that was! Never had the antique andirons on the
hearth, the pewter plates and dishes upon the walls, the brass-bound
blunderbuss above the mantel seemed so bright and polished before, and
surely never had they gleamed upon a merrier company. To be sure, the
Imp's remarks were somewhat few and far between, but that was simply on
account of the blackberry jam.

"I suppose you are both ridiculously happy," said Lady Warburton,
eyeing us over her coffee cup.

"Most absurdly!" answered Lisbeth, blushing all in a moment.

"Preposterously!" I nodded.

"Of course!" said Lady Warburton, and setting down her cup, she sighed,
while I wondered what memories her narrow life could hold.

"Uncle Dick," said the Imp suddenly, "do you s'pose Scarlet Sam ever
ate blackberry jam?"

"Undoubtedly, my Imp, when he could get it." This appeared to greatly
relieve his mind; for he took another helping.

But all things must have an end, alas!-even such a breakfast as this,
and presently we were out in the sunshine again, standing beneath the
weather-beaten sign whereon three faded fishermen fished with faded
rods in a faded stream; while away down the road we could see Peter
already approaching with the carriage.

"And now I suppose you are going?" said Lady Warburton.

"There is a train at half-past ten,"