The Duchess of Rosemary Lane

e and ready for the sickle, bows gracefully beneath the lavender-perfum

with the white moss gathered about its limbs, like an ancient knight clothed in silver armour. The cottage has many rooms of delightfully odd shapes, is tastefully

e contrast to the gnarled and ancient tree, which, could it speak, might honestly say, "Old I am, but am yet fair

denotes that her heart is in them. She is like fair Rosamond waiting for her prince. He comes! A horseman turns into the winding path and waves his hand to her. She replies with the gladdest of smiles and with a waving of her own pretty hand, and her heart

ows his arms about her and kisses her again an

she answers, "I

h uplifted finger and an arch smile;

e was very good to me. But

way, th

l I tell you. I don'

must, though

ve got what you call a st

with a nod which is both

to be turned fr

y way to get on in life

t I am half inclined to be frightened of you. An

ove, and it melts like lead in a furnace. In such a test steel would become

ke the word

darling'?"

e winds her arms round his neck, and murmurs, "It has given me a n

ember telling you once that you ha

ing the nail of her thumb to the tip

nd she is sitting on his knee. "You want to fly away from the subject we were speaking of, so my strong will mus

--if you can! As if you could! No, I'll not say! I

hen, whe

usands of miles

spite that person, who I hope will not suffer very much in

lights up

y presence is imperatively required in the great city. The interests of an influential client

e is the sa

, and smiling upon me the next. Now a lamb, now a tigress. I have the temper of an angel, Nell, or I co

he spea

has any idea of its ultimate fate, how the fruit is getting on, and how you like the new boy I sent to look after the stable. You did not want him you wrote to me; but thereby hangs a tale, which you shall hear presently. Upon my word, Nell, I suspect he is in love with you, like everybody else who sees you. I have a kind of belief that you are a love-witch. He never took his eyes off you, all th

er half so happy as I. When you are wit

are a living wonder! A satisfied woman! I shall scarcely be

that. I hav

," he p

spers i

d last for ever, so that you

l not be denied, my pet. While lovers dream, time flies the faster, I ca

ing. "It will be strange to look back so many years, and think and talk of th

n. You shall not pluck another white hair out of my hea

g shall eve

g, my d

and love is hers, and no deeper heresy could have been wh

in glory of

s all the beau

y a cloud ta

ve, with magic brush, paints the presen