Only a Girl's Love

lurking in the

inging sweetly on

in you fly, for

t valley, on ever

al words floated from the open window of her room above a

d his head away from the eas

of her habits, and knew that when he heard the beautiful voice singing at the windo

ounded on the stairs, in the hall, and a moment afterward the

raveling, and dressed in dust-stained clothes, be sure he thought her more beautiful still, now that the light heart f

rned to call her. The old artist, ignorant of the power of women in[31] such direction, had watched the transformation with inward amazement and delight, and was never tired of

doorway, her dark eyes laughingly contemplating the old man's gentle st

y piping, uncle?" she a

wered, "I like to hear y

his shoulder, and

t grows. I heard you come down this morning, and I

I came down as quietly as I could. I knew you would be ti

reakfast and I

glancing at his p

ainting while he ate a mouthful and drank his cup of coffee, but St

oks," and she drew him gently to th

altogether one of regret, and still humming she

urself?" he asked, ga

milton is the dearest old lady; and the do

I think doctors

asked me all sorts of questions. Sometimes I scarcely knew what to answer. I think they thought because I had been brought up in Italy,

, "and who el

gentleman indeed. He said he didn't see much

ed his head and lo

on't go to church often. I always mean to go, but I generally forget the time, or I wander[32

avely, but with a twinkle in her dark eyes. "I must look

sented, meek

tleman from London. He was quite the lion of the e

d man

did you

olding the cream-jug criti

bad taste, I am afraid, for they all seemed to

looked at her

t too critical. I don't thi

laug

lf in particular. He certainly was beautifully dressed, and he had the dearest little hands and feet in the world; and

you, Stella?" asked the

touch of color came into her fac

e complime

fend your sex ge

who pays them does it with a self-satisfied smile which shows that he is thinki

man look

by telling me your

laug

But you are not eating any breakfast; and you must not keep looking at that odious easel

nev

, you must not confine all

ch fear of that when you a

jumped up to kiss

You are improving rapidly-Mr. Adelstone

3

rds left her lips t

one," said

small and a little too near together, might also have added that they were rather shifty, and that there was something approaching the sinister in the curves of the thin lips; but he was undeniably good-looking, and notwithstanding his well cut clothes and spotless boots with their gray gaiters, his white hands wit

ived his rare visitors, but Stella held out her hand with a smile calm and se

she said. "You have come just

said, as he bent over her hand, "but your good housekeeper would not h

a chair," and he rose and cleared a chair of its litt

lstone

ter your mild dissipation la

laug

e how nice it was. It was my fi

party," he said. "But I am

rs," said Stella, gla

ed them

eard you admire them in the conservatory last night an

now! I am so sorry you should have troubled. It was ve

could know for whom their blossoms w

h a smile, and glanced h

t is a pity[34] they can't know! Can't you tell

ents met with such ready wit, and was nonplussed for a moment,

oke the rather e

tone, will you, please, and come and hav

choed the invitation, th

he plunged into small talk with the greatest ease, his keen eyes watching every

don season that was just coming on, to Stella, who sat and listened, half amused, half puzzled, for London was an unknown

l about the pictures that were going to be exhibited, and which ones would m

idge; there is no place like it the whol

la s

ondon for a long time. My uncle does not

e assented,

" said Mr. Adelstone. "With all its c

there?" sa

interest in her eyes. "Yes; I live in chambers, as it

la n

ar a long black

smi

'lud' instead of 'my lord,' as people

or have an opportunity of calling a judge 'my lud,' or 'my lord,' often. Most of my wo

ong?" asked Mr. Etheridg

moment, and glanced at

3

eant going back to-day, but-I

used her to start. They were the same as those w

s saw the start, and he

Mr. Etheridge. "It would be a pity

nd his glance rested for a moment on Stella's face, but it was quite lo

a start she

e you some

ll, he walked to the easel. "That will be a beautiful pictu

," said the a

ll exhi

anything," was

but there was something in the quiet manner of

o ambition. Besides I am an old man, I have had my chance; let th

. Adelstone. "M

d his hand, and

taking up the canvases and examining them;

exclamation, and turning round saw that he h

in time to catch a sinister frown of dislike, which rested for a m

and an uprising of the eyebrows. "A re

sked Stella, quietly,

Mr. Etheridge has painted a likeness of Lord Le

it is not like

ainted on, deaf

smile. "It is like him, but it-honors him. It en

him?" sa

3

ed, and his thin lips cur

tella's face, and she rai

do you

has made himself too famous-

her face, and left it pa

ickly, "I mean do not forget that

er with a sini

id not know he was a fr

eyes and looked

no friend of mine,"

of it," h

Lord Leycester was no friend of hers, she had but seen and spoken with him by chance, and for a few

he had made a slip, and

t that moment that you had been so short a time in England as to be ignorant of people who are well

stirred her to take up arms in the absent man's defense

famous,'" she said, with a grave smil

, his eyes resting

him an injustice. A man whose name is known all over the country-whose name is familiar as a household word-must be notori

ed, so mad and reckless-so notorious that even this self-satisfied young gentleman could safely moralize about him and warn her against makin

ffer at her shrine would offer no half-measured oblations. As he watched her his heart beat wildly, and his small, bright eyes glittered. He had thought her beautiful at the party last night, where she had outshone all the other girls of the village as a star outshines a rushlight; but this morning her loveliness r

are. Will you stroll down to the river with me?" he sa

and the world; but, perhaps, because of that-because she had not learnt the usual hackneyed word

ned her eyes upon hi

duties to perform, and that"-pointing to the sun with her wh

frown that knitted his brow and spoiled his face

stared at him; he had qu

g? I beg your pardon. Won't you

like some dinner firs

gave him

id, "and thank you ver

s long as he dared

nconsciously, gav

m the canvas. "Very clever, too. I remember him quite a little boy, and always sai

Stella. "What a

I don't know-

, laughing. "Well, what

rt of man to insist upon having

his sake; and I hope, also for his sake, that he won't set his[3

insisted that Stella should do nothing in the little household. She had announced with terrible gravity that such things weren't becoming to a young lady like Miss Stella, and that she had always done for Mr. Etheridge, and she always would; but before the second day had passed Stella had

tle while; I'll eat them, I don't mind indigestion," Stella declared, and she ma

he burst into the kitchen a

you would have done it all before I came, but you wo

nfold g

Miss Stella, there's

the flour, elevated the r

t may, who cannot make a jam roley-poley or an apple tart is unworthy the name of an English

the organ, Miss Stella, an

for jam or rhubarb. I think I'll go and ask him," and dropping the rolling-pin-which Mrs. Penfold succeeded in

nd strawberry jam. The one is sweet and luscious to the taste, but

king about?" exclaimed the bewi

e!" she exclaimed with upraised arm, her eyes

3

her with all an artist's

d, then he suddenly stopp

ype="