was soon at
its highest pitch, the archery getting more spirited and the changing
scenes of the forest from roofed grove to open glade growing lovelier
with the lengthening shadows, and the deeply-felt but undefinable
gradations of the mellowing afternoon. It was agreed that they were
playing an extemporized "As you like it;" and when a pretty compliment
had been turned to Gwendolen about her having the part of Rosalind, she
felt the more compelled to be surpassing in loveliness. This was not
very difficult to her, for the effect of what had happened to-day was
an excitement which needed a vent--a sense of adventure rather than
alarm, and a straining toward the management of her retreat, so as not
to be impeded.

The roving had been lasting nearly an hour before the arrival at the
Whispering Stones, two tall conical blocks that leaned toward each
other like gigantic gray-mantled figures. They were soon surveyed and
passed by with the remark that they would be good ghosts on a starlit
night. But a soft sunlight was on them now, and Gwendolen felt daring.
The stones were near a fine grove of beeches, where the archers found
plenty of marks.

"How far are we from Green Arbor now?" said Gwendolen, having got in
front by the side of the warden.

"Oh, not more than half a mile, taking along the avenue we're going to
cross up there: but I shall take round a Couple of miles, by the High
Cross."

She was falling back among the rest, when suddenly they seemed all to
be hurrying obliquely forward under the guidance of Mr. Lush, and
lingering a little where she was, she perceived her opportunity of
slipping away. Soon she was out of sight, and without running she
seemed to herself to fly along the ground and count the moments nothing
till she found herself back again at the Whispering Stones. They turned
their blank gray sides to her: what was there on the other side? If
there were nothing after all? That was her only dread now--to have to
turn back again in mystification; and walking round the right-hand
stone without pause, she found herself in front of some one whose large
dark eyes met hers at a foot's distance. In spite of expectation, she
was startled and shrank bank, but in doing so she could take in the
whole figure of this stranger and perceive that she was unmistakably a
lady, and one who must have been exceedingly handsome. She perceived,
also, that a few yards from her were two children seated on the grass.

"Mi