When the Birds Begin to Sing

added sparkle to the eye. She was laughing, too-the rogue-as well she might, for had she not brought her right hand swiftly down upon his left ear

e beginning, and tell yo

r through the long grass. He has watched her playing with the innocent school children-little more than a child herself-and then, with the calm assurance that to him is second nature,

mers, whom Philip tosses on his shoulder with good-nature

is the

cries a small boyish

rranging a circle. Placing his tiny friend again on her feet, and taki

dly, guessing that her dainty figure and de

higher as her feet approach the man's tall figure. Shall she? Shall she? No ti

buttercups, while he pursues, nearer-nearer-and then the s

, and half laughing, half indignant, walks hastily away. But after

nitently. "It was only the game

Grebby," she continues with a prim little air tha

ather taken aback

p Roche, at

each other," hol

agerly-such a

a nice introduc

pretty Eleanor is, as she as

" she cries, with a thought f

yes on the girl's fair physique, and unob

of course. We

summer

downpour. I shall make for that barn in the next f

et," declares Philip, pretending

and as they run together to

ng skies. "Let me make you comfortable," heaping together a pi

uch, looking somewhat wistfully t

feed the chickens, dust the house, and teach in the Sunday-school. Only f

Eleanor laughs again with a return of that s

wer prettily-like a schoolgirl. The vicar's wife would have a fit if I lounged like this," flinging herself back with an air of abandon on the hay. "Once she asked me t

been invited to tea since. Oh, how I should like to sing at concerts and halls-I mea

ntence-involuntarily the little hands cl

y for the first time. "You do not know the fate that you are coveting. Best contented,

shakes h

eem like it,"

uty is sometimes heroi

ed that go to London, and sin

don't know that you're far wrong. Few are guileless. But why talk of it? Time

ously, drawing the long ends of hay th

s I feed my friends-lunches, dinners, midnight suppers-all of which pall terribly after a time. Instead of

no wife

N

ilver you threw to the children this afternoon! I do not belie

as going to say "a wife," but checked h

ry lonely," says Eleanor, with

pitied by the little farmer's daughter when so man

t wanders through the barn door to mingle its glory with Eleanor's hair

has been such a r

ng enough to play with the children for hours

s her han

to his with a slo

icar's wife to

ghs. "You don't mean I

mples all over in

e gasps gleefully. "I sho

ilip, holding up his hands to the sky, and prete

h, isn't the grass soaking?" as Philip takes her arm and guides her to a narrow path. "The children will ruin the

years to follow, and why they have any existen

isn't it? They look so thoroughly innocent, these country children. Do you see that little boy crying because he was knocked down in the three-legged steeplechase. His life race is only

g the man by their changeful beauty-one moment light and dancing like the

and kind to all, though her gaze rests chiefly on the tall, sunbur

ce in their games. "I won 'er, 'opping along o' Margery in the big race," holding aloft a

er?" asks the Sunday-

sighs the chil

" suggest

Eleanor, but she 'adn't got en

doll by another name," sa

akes her head, and an

away well satisfied, to re-open a hal

ever energetic Miss Grebby initiates him into the mysteries of "N

is summer world, and the great red sun sin

ng is drowned by the hearty cheers of the happy ch

tle grimace, as Philip bends down to fast

y, noting the bright smile that flit

drove. The vicar's wife had some friends from South Kensington who were positively lame if they w

sight. Oh, the delightful dawdle back through the vague shadows of evening in sweetly scented lanes! How merrily sh

es, he has discovered the one spotless soul of his life-a fres

anor calls home. It is a picturesque spot, and Philip st

n that quiet abode?"

en a holiday for the children, but half the village

nd the children are so far

you again,"

" asks Eleanor,

ornfield on our left

h will be gleaning,

Boaz do?"

r eyes, and inter

he replies

. She is more beautiful than ever now in the dim solitude of the deserted road. The simplicity of her daily routine in the country farmhouse appeals to this man of the

ns his imagination. A picture wonderful and hitherto un

ost in con

last," he says, speak

Eleanor unde

Woman!" h

en and rational costumes have not yet penetrated to the depths of Co

sionable spirit! Philip is enamoured of the idea, he sees such vast possibilities stretching out before him. Eleanor differed so widely from the wome

we known each o

ours," she ans

ow the surface in one hu

ildered; she is a

short a time?" he says incre

ks looking down shyly. "Hav

e reassu

the brim. To every second a fresh tho

ore," she declares frankly,

ht" Eleanor breaks away and

s something between a hindrance and

into song. "Yes!" it