unquiet ghosts
of the neighbourhood, I should judge,'--added Miss Hazel
thoughtfully slipping her bracelets up and down.

'Scandal, eh?' said Mr. Falkirk. 'And yet the drive was
stupid!'

'Incredible, sir, is it not? But you see, I had been ever so
long face to face with the brook!--'

'I do not know that I am fond of scandal,' said Mr. Falkirk;
'and yet I should like to know what particular variety of that
favourite dish Madame chose to serve you with. And in the mean
time, to relieve the dryness of the subject, Miss Hazel, will
you give me a cup of tea?'

She sprang up, and began to busy herself at once with her home
duties, but did not immediately answer his question. Until she
came round to his side, bringing the fragrant and steaming cup
of tea, and then apparently thoughts were too much for her,
and she broke forth:

'Why don't people marry each other if they want to, Mr.
Falkirk?' she said, standing still to put the question. 'And
if they _don't_ want to, why do not other people let them
alone?'

Mr. Falkirk shot one of his glances at the questioner from
under his dark brows, and sipped his tea.

'There might be a variety of answers given to your first
query, Miss Hazel. People that want to marry each other are
proverbially subject to hindrances--from the days of fairy
tales down to our own.'

'They always do it in fairy tales, however.'

'They very often do it in real life,' said Mr. Falkirk
gravely.

'Well, sir?--then why cannot they be left to take care of
themselves, either way? It is such fudge!' she said, walking
back to her place and energetically dropping sugar in her own
cup.

'Who is Mme. Lasalle trying to take care of?'

'Me, last, sir. Warning me that things laughed at become
dangerous. In which case I shall lead a tolerably risky life.'

'Who is Mme. Lasalle warning you against?' demanded Mr.
Falkirk hastily.

'My dear sir, how excited you are over poor Mme. Lasalle! I
presumed to laugh at some of her fancy sketches, and then of
course she rapped me over the knuckles. Or meant it!' said
Miss Hazel, slightly lifting her eyebrows.

'But I observe you do not answer me, my dear.'

'No, sir,--if you will allow me to use my own judgment, I think
I had better not. Let me have your cup, Mr. Falkirk please,
and I'll put more sugar in this time.'

Mr. Falkirk finished his tea and made no more observations. He
was silent and thoughtful,--moody, his ward might have fancied
him,--whi