w on going into the long, low, old-fashioned drawing-room was the master of Cumber Priory leaning against the mantelpiece in his favourite att

she rose to receive us. 'I hope it will be a warning to you to be more careful in future. I think t

the timely appearance of an infuriated bull, in order that I may distinguish myself by something novel in the way of a rescue. I hear

from the kind old Rector, and had been almost a son of the house in the past, the girls told me. He had resumed his old place upon his return, and seemed really fond of

seeing that the world contained. He had read a great deal too, in spite of his wandering

uld see how much she was interested in his talk. He did not stop long in the dining-room after we had left, but joined us as we sat round the fire in the drawing-room, talking over

er ladies of the company, myself included. Milly sang an English ballad very s

aunt us in our walks, and, go where we would, we were always meeting him, in company with a Scottish deerhound called Nestor, of which Milly became very fond. Whe

aster of Cumber Priory. I knew that her father thought badly of him. Yet, what could I do? I was not old enough to pretend to any authority over my darling, nor had her father invested me with any; and I knew that her noble

s boyhood; and it was considered by his old friends, that, whatever his career abroad might have been, he had begun, and was steadily pursuing, a reformed course of life. His m

dship between Milly and Mr. Egerton, and one day in the spring, after they had

e garden, after a game of croquet-the Rector's wife and I

im,' Mrs. Collingwoo

to like Mr. Ege

I think I am almost as fond of him as if he were my son; and I should be so pleased if I could be the means of bringing about a

money, after all, that Angus Egerton was thinking

r to marry any one who ca

w that Angus admired her very much the first day he saw her, and I fancy his admiration has grown into a warmer feeling since then. He has said nothing to me upon the subject, nor I to him; for you know how silent he

isposed to distrust Mr. Egerton. I remembered the story of his early attachment, and told mysel

ven permit, such a marriage,' I said presently. '

at acc

his conduct t

to think badly of him upon that ground. I knew Mrs. Egerton very well. She was a proud hard woman, capable of almost anythi

he met the girl he

of England, where he went on a wal

to act as he did. I should doubt hi

e, there generally comes a better and truer feeling. Angus was little more than a boy then. He is in the prime of

ss of our lives. After this I looked upon every invitation to the Rectory-where we never went without meeting Mr. Egerton-as a kind of snare; but our

sible by mere chance, there was nothing strictly lover-like in his tone or conduct. But I have seen his face light up as he met my de

t I knew that she loved him. It was impossible, in the perfect companionship and confidence of our lives, for Milly to keep this first secret of her pure young heart hidden from me. I knew