At Large

t us have a look at you. Mind, we don't know yet that y

t-ten of them," sa

ion," the Colonel added with a glance at his daughter; "although I half

-" Dick was beginning

" said the o

ord for it?" as

th a quiet smile; "and he hasn't altere

voice. And, indeed, he felt grateful to them all; to the Colonel for his ponderous pleasantry, to Alice for her unembarra

ou land?" inqui

morn

hen I think it was too good of you to co

might have understood his eagerness. Alice, at any rate, should not have be

ht pause; then t

e, she would scarcely grudge us an hour or two this evening-though grudge it you may de

t all," murmured Dick

a daily nuisance in store for you for the next six months. But I may tell you we expect some toug

had va

t perceive it, but he thought the question odd. To disappear seemed to him the only thing a stra

theme which her

ul stories," said she; "he has

t he only said: "You should take tra

retorted; "I shall remembe

retort. All three bega

here, and drew bush scenes for our i

; more often for th

mean the English ones. We cut them out and ke

ugh?" said Di

ick with you about them. That 'Week in the

itted th

n were you in the

that he had n

h public, which is a far more serious matter. What explanation have you to offer? What

Alice replied with such a mischievous, interested smile

in the mud; and how did it appear? 'The War at the Cape: Difficulties in Reaching the Front.' And they had altered the horns of my bullocks, if you please, to make 'em into South African cattle!

rue; but she added, slyly: "One must take tra

ur photographer. Dick, she's taken to photography-it's lately become the fashion. Look on that table, un

m?" Dick asked, mo

since you artists scorn photography-as so inartist

ck, in a low voice, picking up a print;

em and the Colonel; he instinctively lowered his voice, and a grain of

ok off the

. W

e cap off when I am so vain as to

n of thought, and spoken carelessly; there was no trace of jealousy in the tone-it

if you

r tone nothing amiss. Several of the photographs

o speak so before her father: the restraint was natural, though he

for pique in her old lover, and imagined it bef

many o

impression of Miles, which had fled from his mind (with all other impressions) while talking to her, swiftly returned. He had used the ma

I see no photographs of Mr. Miles he

and with that she rolled all the prints into one little cylinder. Dick was in that nervous state in which a kind word wipes out unkindness the

with unutterable emotion; he yearned to clasp her in his arms, yet dared not to profane her with his touch. There had been vows between them when they parted-vows out of number, and kisses and tears; but no betrothal, and never a letter. He could but gaze at her now-h

y life. It is what I have dreamt of, Alice, but feared

red him c

e to have you b

ook with tenderness: "Here-this moment-I can't believe the

four years," said Alice s

ung on her downcast lids, waiting for an a

days? and our promises? and how we parted?" He was going on, but Alice i

speak of them at all. We can't have childhood over again; and I was a child then-o

made him break off short, and add in a qu

silk and jingling beads-an old lady with a sallow face and a piercing black eye, who welcomed Di

ficiently kindly words, but they were accompanied by a flash of the beady eyes from Dick to Alice, and a scrutiny of the young fellow's appearance as se

ry much," said Dick civilly; "and it is cha

ts immemorial housekeeper! This Mrs. Parish was ugly, vain, and old, and had appeared as old and as vain and as ugly when, more than twenty years ago, she first entered the Colone

altogether out there. She congratulated him on his success (she called it "luck"), which she declared was in the mouths of everybody. On that h

Bristo and Mr. Miles came back, chatting. "I was saying," Mrs. Parish repeated for their benefit, "that of course Mr. Richard will soon return to Australia; he will

in tones mellow and musical. His long frame sank with graceful freedom into a chair beside Mrs. Pari

lonel cheerily. "That would be treating us all abo

gravely at

ould not refrain from a sly glance at Alice. Her eyes, be

iftly to one of extreme kindness. "Well, it would be dreadful if you didn't stop at home now.

ng-box in Yorkshire for this year. And Alice's manner was very courteous and kindly, for she was beginning to reproach herself for having been cruel to him on this his first evening, and to wonder how

her sweetheart-alas! her quondam sweetheart. While they talked, Mr. Miles, at the other side of the room, kept up an entertaining conversation with Mrs. Parish. At the same time he observed Dick Edmons

hrust his arm affectionately through th

y so splendidly. Nay, don't interrupt me; your way in the world is already made, and nobly made. I think you showed your sense-and

had felt misgivings about it ever since the heat of t

I, too, will be frank. Four years ago, more or less, I was forced to answer in a certain way a certain question-ther

I am," said Di

y this much, I that am to lose her. But you deserve her; come here as often as you will; you will be very welcome.

enough, sir," Di

"I frankly tell you, I shall li

ld express his feeling just then. He looked up, but the honest, simple-hearted soldier was gone.

lf. And now did she even desire it? He had found her so passionless, so different from all he had fancied, or hoped, or feared. Once she had been cruel, but anon so kind; and then she had ridiculed him in pure friendliness. Alas, fatal friendliness! Had she but been awkward or shown him downright coldness-anything

r one brief moment. For a sound broke on his ears which made him stare and tremble, and drove out the sweet influences almost before their presence was