Vain Fortune

oses, and the closely cropped privets were in full leaf. Hubert's senses were taken with the beauty of the morning, and there came the thought, so delicious, 'All this is mine.' He notice

alf-bred fox-terrier barked noisily at him; he heard some one calling the dog, and saw a slight black

d. She stopped, turned,

out last night. I hope that Mrs. Bentley

your kind intentions.

silence, neither k

ilk parasol at the dog, who had begun an attack on

d he doesn

know you. Are you

that I am, p

g in the world I love as I love my Dandy; come here, dear.' The dog came, wagging his tail, putting back his ears, knowing he was going to be caressed. Emily stooped down, took

was impossible to say what wild freak had taken him; but instead of waiting, as he was expected to wait, stolidly, he had started off on a wild career, regardless of the safety of the machine. At the first bound it had come in contact with a flower-vase, which had been sent in many pieces over the sward; at the second it had met with some stone coping; and at the third it had turned over in

onkey,' she said, turning her dreamy eyes on Hubert. 'I used to ride him every day until about two years ago. I love my dear old Jack, and would not have h

own a long walk, wondering

self immensely here.' The remark appeared to him to be of doubtful taste, and he has

g still with a certain tremor in her voice. 'You haven't

ds; and he liked the espalier apple-trees with which the garden was divide

care for

very

eful as I am, and it isn't nice to find that the plants you have been tending for weeks have been spoilt by over-watering. I don't say she doesn't love them, but she forgets them.... Just look at tho

a human being

iculous, but I do cry sometimes, and sometimes I cannot resist taking them out on the sly, and giving them a thoroughly good syringing,-only you must

think it

ain,' she said, fixing her

red; and then he said, 'You and Mrs. Be

She is very poor-that is why Mr. Burnett asked her to come and live here; besides, as I grew up I wanted a companion. She has been very good to m

n happy. But tell me m

t me all I know; she cheered me when I was sad-when I thought my heart would break; when everybody else seemed unkind sh

wered hurriedly. 'I spoke to her last

ubert; and then, as if doubtful of herself, she said, 'Do you like her?

sant woman, and I'm sure we shal

u think her v

is a hands

ly on the gravel with the point of her paras

g her eyes timidly, 'to feed the swa

f all things. A walk by the water on

here I am going, and is afraid I shall forget him-aren't you, dear old Don? You wouldn't like to miss a walk with your mistress, would you, dear?' The dog bounded and rushed from side to side; it was with dif

; but the chestnut hair seemed more beautiful beneath the black silk sunshade, leaned so gracefully, the black handle held between thumb and forefinger. And the little black figure seemed a part of the beautiful English park, now so green and fragrant in all the flower and sunlight of June, and decorated with a blue summer sky, and white clouds moving lazil

the bridge?' And she threw the bread from the basket, and the beautiful b

behind Emily and Hubert, there was one small island covered with reeds and low bushes, and this was a favourit

l follow me to the other end, and I shall be

eagerness-sometimes pursuing a hare into the distant woods. The last chase had led them far, and both dogs returned panting to walk till they rec

see much of

go, when I was at the University. There was a

she said in a stra

I a

us tremor in her voice, 'that I do not want you to think that I am so very disappointed. I do not know that I am disa

the sorcery of the sunshine. 'Five years ago I wrote to him,' said Hubert, speaking very slowly, 'asking him to lend

ing disinherited me, I do not mind telling you the reason. Two

veral yards wi

ight? I was only eighteen

ing that he could have even

dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice. There was a plank by which to cross the deep cutting. Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some ris

said, 'but I could not marry him. I co

he did not mention you in his will. I n

ot matter; things are just the same; he hasn't succeeded in altering an

everything has happened for the best. I was very fond of the old man. I gave him my whole heart; no father ever had a daughter more attached; but I could not marry him. And it was the remembrance of my love for him that made me burst out crying. I do not think

omise

ley was standing by the sideboard, her basket of keys in her hand; she had not quite finished her housekeeping, and was giving some last instructions to the butler. Hubert notic