sion. Messages were accordingly sent to the Snieders, and from the Snieders back again, and after a wonderful amount of talk and arranging, everything was settled. D

an excursion, so naturally things cannot be expec

ouch, as there was certainly no time). She was quite ready, but Mevrouw at that moment discovered that she had the wrong sunshade. Julia fetched the right one and carried it out for the old lady; also an umbrella with a bow on the hand

l the three ladies, and inquired after Herr Snieder, and received polite inquiries in return. Then Denah insisted on getting out, so that Mevrouw should be better able to get in; also to show that she was athletic and agile, like an English girl, and thought nothing of getting in and out of a high carriage. Mevrouw kissed her husband and son, twice each, very loud, called a good-bye to t

hat was done they stopped again at the house of Mijnheer's head clerk; here they were to take up two children, girls of fourteen and fifteen, who had been invited to come with the party. The carriage was not kept waiting, the chil

gh green banks, with the brown sails of boats showing above, and looking as if they were a good deal higher than the carriage road. They passed small fields, subdivided into yet smaller patches, and all very highly cultivated. And small black and white houses, and small black and white cows, and black and white goats, and

-beds and emerald lawns, all set round with rows and rows of plants in bright red pots. Or there it was a cemetery, where the peaceful aspect made Denah sentimental, and the beauty of the trees drew Anna's praise. The two elder ladies paid less attention to what

nd there. There was no undergrowth, and few bird songs, only the dim wood aisles stretching away, quiet and green. Suddenly it seemed to Julia that the world's horizon had been stretched, the little neatness, the clean, trim bri

profound sigh. "The beautiful woo

"You cannot love it as I do; I think I am a child of Natu

etimes," Julia said, "to buy gloves; th

hought out the details of life in a natural state; but before she could c

ul!" and Denah, content to ignore Nature, added rapturously

was full of noises now, voices and laughter, amidst which the organ notes did not seem out of place. And near at hand under the trees there

uldering wood ashes was set on the table; cups and saucers and goats' milk were also supplied to them, and opaque beet-root sugar. The food they had brought in their baskets, big new broodje split in half, buttered and put tog

in England?" Anna asked, as she gat

f her mother and Violet driving in a wheeled ark to the wood, there to

en it is all the more of a pl

slip; she could walk at double their pace with half their exertion, she could lose herself among the trees while they were wondering why she had gone, and making up their minds to follow her; and, most important of all, when she came back she could explain everything quite easily, so that they would not think it in the least strange-an accident, a missing of the way, anything. Should she do it-should she? The wild creature that had lived half-smothered within her for all the twenty years of

stance. "Shall we not go back to wh

inned sisters, like a rapier between cushions. The two younger girls ran on in front. "There is Mevrouw,

ning to them, and the coachman appeared impatient to be off. With reluctance, and many t

aid, leaning far out as they started. "Oh, if

," her mother observed

stable remark De

ct of interest they had not seen before. It was when they were nearing the outskirts of th

me on business which was unlikely to bring them out to these quiet, flat fields. But Anna and Denah, who joined her in

an," Anna said, "as if all

"he has no moustache, and wears a g

ickly. They were right, it was an Engl

She was very glad that Mevrouw felt the air chilly, and so had had the leather flaps pulled over part of the op

n Englishman

one could not mistake

n," Anna speculated; and Julia said she did not

; of his air and bearing, and the fact, of which they declar

ad left the clerk's children at their house, said good-bye to Vrouw Van Heigen and Julia, and were within their own home at last; the

e, and still more at the tone.

would not tell any one, she wishes it conc

terribly matter-of-fact person, to whom suggestions were

d her eyes-she looked-" She hesitated for a word, and dropped to the homely, "She looked as if she would bite with annoyance that he should be here. The

e Anna was impressed. But not for long, she could not acc

knowledge if she did; it is not so easy to hide one's feelings in the flash of an eye, besides there was no reason. Also"-this as an afterthought-"he was a man

nvinced; she only repeated

the coffee made. Mevrouw sat with her crochet, and Mijnheer opposite her with his paper. It wanted more than a quarter of an hour to supper time, Julia had been too quick; still it did not mat

easant, but quite un-English, and mixed with it a faint smell of flowers, the late blooming bulbs have little scent on the whole; it was more the heavy dew than the flowers themselves which one could smell. It was

n; but he was incongruous in this simple life, and he brought forcibly home the incongruity of herself and her errand. She had come for the blue daffodil, it was no good pretending she had not; she told herself angrily, as she had told herself when she had first looked at Johnny's yellow-faced watch, that she was going to get it in some way that w

's watch, Joost Van Heigen-there was something about them all that was hatefully embarrassing. No self-respecting thief robbed a child; even the most apathetic conscience revolted at such an idea. No gentleman worthy of the name attacked an unarmed man, the preparedness of the parties

d been playing some of his favourite composer; he had stopped now, and was doubtless sorting his music and putting it away, each piece four-square and absolutely neat. Day by day, and year by year, they lived this quiet life, with a drive for a rare holiday treat, and the discovery of a new flower as the goal of all hope

He was carrying a lantern, and was going to make his nightly round of the barns. She did n

to see him, but his greeting was a very usual

e you doing? Thinking? Weaving in your hea

d; "I was thinkin

he repeat

raid to tell the truth, so they lie; and some are afraid to be dis

r surprise. "Such things cannot de

a-that's silly, isn't it? Then I know other people who blush if a pair of breeches, or something equally inoffensive, are mentioned; that seems equally silly. One lot of people is ashamed to be seen eating bread-and-cheese supper

of her face. "Are you making fun?" he asked. "I do not know when y

wered ignoring the last question. Something in her tone s

on you; will you forgive me? You are thinking of your home, no

she said; "my eldest sister was married last week, there would be no time

" he asked; "and you wer

here," Julia said; then asked

Then seeing she did not resume her seat on the st

eir shadows danced fantastically. Then he tried various doors, and glanced up the wall-ladder to the square opening which led to the floor above. There was no need to examine the place minutely, it was all quiet and d

king round: "they are so big and quie

e did not approve of the word. "Is

lace; and its

k us resp

k you are the most respect

t barn as she spoke. "You are goin

look round,

a moment they heard a rustling and movement in the dark, far corner. Joost started vi

id with amusement. "Do you

often

was clear from her manner

to come out here alon

like I will come here alone, go thro

irls who would do that," he said;

remarked, "I think girls are usually brought up with too much protection; I mean girls of our class, they a

en then?" she said; "you would rather a woman could ta

I would like them to

tanding in the misty moon-light, whi

brave, womanly. Do you know what I really am? I am ba

er, which was perhaps no