Only a Girl's Love

ntly, and tried to spring, but her d

alert to save her. Quite simply and naturally

ose to his, her face almost resting on his shoulders, but that mo

5

hurt?" he

away from him, the color coming and going in her face; it was the fir

ite sure?"

laughed. "What would have

sprained your

really?" she repea

ad to carry you down to t

ed away

d I did n

said, "am-

eks aflame, a feeling that was something like shame, and yet too full o

she threaded her way between the trees and spra

a moment looking at her, his face pale, his

d pull a pair of sculls-and her hand was on the edge of the boat, when she heard the sound of bells, and paused with astonishment. Looking

eing driven by a coachman in dark-brown livery, but the next moment

y, so ethereal looking, t

t reading. She held it so loosely that as the ph?ton came along the top of the

g one of her sudden impulses, sprang lightly up the

ale face was dyed with a faint color; even after the moment had passed she sat sp

of me to drop it. But where did you come from-the clouds?" And there w

5

, with her open smile. "I was st

he po

y Lilian. "I d

to proceed; but Lady Lilian seemed reluctant to go, and made no sign to the coac

he one with the pale face and the blue eyes regarding the fresh, health

ve been gathering them on the slo

tella. "Will

could not think

ith her charact

I have been taking what did not

bred to refuse; besides

me, and will not mind pi

the costly sables which

th a caressing gesture. "You are, l

nodded.

em, unseen by Lilian, forgotten

the meaning in his sister's eyes; she was longing to know more

flush, Lady

r, are you not? I mean

she smiled and pointed to the c

ster seized the moment, and coming

imed Lilian, with

l, irresistible smile. It was as if he had sai

oud he

ss Etheridge, Lilian. Miss Etheridge, this is my sist

n held out

y glad,"

nd held it for a moment; then Lady

interpreted the

5

ry deep with me," he said. "We came across to gat

his hand acro

ilian

e is painting. Is he not clever

the one word wanting to draw the

warmer-" Stella glanced at the frail form clad in sables, with a moistened eye-"I am going to spend a long afternoon among the pictures. He

Leycester stood looking over the ri

a loo

said, and Lord Leycester dre

ot?" said Lady Lilian

e," said Stella,

ith meek humility. "I see so little of the world that I grow dull and i

t in her warm

come," s

es were fixed in quite another direction, seemed to se

she said,

lled out, in her low, musical voice,

ter, Lenore

r raised

" he said.

words rang in her ears with a senseless kind of insistence and emph

she turned swiftly

is!" she said, al

with gratitude in

es

s sprang to her eyes. "I can see her face now. I can hear

I love her?" he said.

ped him wit

5

warmer than a stone c

a stone. Thank you for that, at least," he sa

looked

id. "See, uncle is gett

n will break her heart if you go without any

atures, had filled her with strange thoughts. She understood now th

the sound of a horse coming along the mossy roa

r or quicker however, for he ca

dden by a tall, thin, dark young man, almost up

th one spring stood between her and the horse, and seizing the bridle

taken by surprise so complete, that, as the horse

ouped. Lord Leycester, pale with furious passion, still holding the reins and forcing

he next he was on his feet and advancing to

making, by contrast, his

med, furiously, and half-unco

was all that was needed to rouse t

e whip, and flinging the owner to the ground again with one moveme

world, Stella had no time to interpose before the rash

d into his face, white and working with passion; all its[56] beaut

n through him, his hand fell to his side, and still holding the now plu

ok himself, and glared at him. Speechless from the sheer breathlessnes

first to brea

lord!" s

proachful voice, Lord

ger, you were-you were!" Then, at the thought, his fiery passion broke out again, and he turn

lips moved, and a

wer for this,

rst word he c

Lord Leycester's

th on his lips, he

le wretch, that you nearly rode over this lady-yes, rode ove

e, and her own arms were wound about his, on which t

and there was a mute prayer for par

ured, between his lips; "I

ointed to

fiery passion broke out again. "No, by Heaven, you

!" said

zing. "Is every tailor to ride through the Chase and

ooking from on

Please, pray do not say another word. Mr. Adel

one hesitated

a," he said

oil on the sm

r. "Who gave you the right to address

bit h

rry[57] that this unpleasant contretemps should have be

t!" broke in

with brutal force, thrown me from the saddle. I should have seen you in time, and, as I say, no harm would

lignant gleam shot out of his eyes in the direction of

not want you to beg my pardon. It was only an accident. You di

ycester

y that," h

n a

d go home, and thank your stars the la

, then, with another inclination of

calm and motionless for a moment, then r

remember to ride mor

own at him with a maligna

to forget. No, I am not one to forget," and strikin