Miss Merivale's Mistake

d the mystery of Miss Merivale's sudden interest in Rhoda. And she spent a lo

But something in Rhoda's manner the night before made her hesitate. And she felt half inclined to believe t

into the garden next morning to help

ckson, the gardener, had come to the ho

s Merivale said, with a laugh. "He won't sow a seed without askin

a. "He has always been a regular despot about the gard

want you to teach me something about flowers while I am here, Miss Sampson. I have schemes for a f

scovery which had led her to a decision. She had wandered on before Rose towards the end of the garden, where an archway through a clipped yew hedge led to the stables and farm buildings. Her steps made no sound on the turf path, and she suddenly came in sight of Tom

ey woods with you," he said.

in an ordinary tone. A blush came over her face, and she dropped her eyes. She could not meet his eager glance. For

cept a controlled quivering at the corners of her firm lips; but Pauline was not deceived by her calmness. Her only doubt was as to whether Tom shared Miss Merivale's k

hway to start on his ride, and Pauline retu

ng reproach when she joined her. "I am afraid your brother w

asked Rose, jarred through an

But perhaps you would rather I did not speak of i

answered. "Of course I kn

are jealo

lous. I am not so horrid as that. But don't

seriously, do you think the course of true love is likely to run smooth? Sure

And so am I," said Rose stoutly, "I

eople. I shall begin to think Miss Sampson must have a fai

-bed to put an end to the conversation. Pauline did not attempt to follow

a smile as Pauline entered. "I was just wishing you or Rose would come in, Miss Smythe,"

ve her opinion. Then she took up the basket of

got hold of the basket just

ge the basket, glancing once or twice at her companion. Miss Merivale looked very co

who began the

Sampson in the garden, Miss Meriva

k she is hap

ternoon, you might never have heard of her. How strang

t colour shall I use for this leaf, my dear? My eyes a

ething still more strange might have happened, Miss Merivale," she went on lightly. "Suppose Miss Sampson had been your own niece?

at Pauline with wide-open, terrified eyes. She made

beside her. "You are angry with me. I have hurt you. Is it possible that Rhoda is your niece,

tunned voice. Pauline's words had suddenly torn away the ve

d. "She is my sister Lydia's litt

to admit the truth so readily. "Miss Merivale, you must trust me," she said in a low, eager

g herself from the touch of Pauline's hands

the same stunned, heavy voice. "I shall tell Tom

efore going to meet them. He passed through the archway in the yew hedge, marking with tender, happy eyes the exact spot where Rhoda had stood that morning while they talked

d across the hall. As he reached the foot of the

avily on the jamb. It was with difficulty she had crossed the room

to Bingley woods," Tom excla

em stay at home. I was f

. "You do want a lot of looking after, Aunt Lucy. Have you a fire? The wind is

that her face was grey with pain. She had spent some bitter hours since Pauline had spoken to her that morning. Though she had done it for Tom's sake, she feared that he would find it very

pulsion at Pauline's eagerness to convince her that she would be silent had been followed by the sad reflect

your sofa close up to the fire. Where is your knitting, Aunt

e pretended to be knitting when she was really fast asl

noticed how her voice trembled. "I thought I would go to m

ntly. "I want to speak to you. I m

id. "What is it?" He drew a chair close to her and sat down, h

n she had expected, though she had known it would be very di

r. "About Rhoda?" he echoed. She he

ed her here. You know that I love her, Tom. You

e you had guessed," Tom sa

Has it never struck you as strange that I should have asked Rhoda

ral that his aunt should have loved her at first sight, just as he had done. But his voice was anxious as he

, Rhoda is Lydia's little girl. She is my own niece. I ha

can she be Cousin Lydia's child?" he asked

, Tom, she is Lydia's daughter. I kno

, a dark flush rising in his face. H

de myself I was mistaken," she f

in his face had faded, leaving it very white. "Aunt Luc

STARED AT HER, N

utting her hand on his ar

d then looking away again. "You have made it impossib

you don't suppose she would believe that you-Oh,

alk like that. What is done can't be undone. But let me understand. What proofs have you that Rhod

as able to speak fully to him. He listened with

M'Alister will be sure to know his address. Shall I go up and see Mr. Tho

Rhoda

there seems no room for doubt. Aunt L

bbed hysterically, while he did his best to soothe her, forgetting his own p

come between you? Tom dea

-but I must wait. Can't you see it must be so? I shall have my own way to make in th

im if she was heiress of Woodcote and he without a penny he could call his own. If they had met knowing their relative positions, it might have been different. But now

m, but she was far from understanding the full

He no longer felt inclined to go and meet the pony carriage, but he went through the wood to the furz

ing a red flag. Tom was glad to see it disappear over the dip of the hill. The lane from Bingley woods entered the hig

w. Tom sat down on a turf hillock, fixing his ey