a student, now a teacher of the
"humanities," from the neighboring town--I beg its pardon--city; and a
lovely old city it is!--of St. Andrews. Thence he was in the habit of
coming to them three and often four days in the week, teaching of
mornings and walking of afternoons. They had expected him this
afternoon, but their grandmother had carried them off on some pleasure
excursion; and being a lady of inexact habits--one, too, to whom tutors
were tutors and nothing more--she had merely said to Miss Williams, as
the carriage drove away, "When Mr. Roy comes, tell him he is not wanted
till tomorrow."

And so Miss Williams had waited at the gate, not wishing him to have the
additional trouble of walking up to the house, for she knew every minute
of his time was precious. The poor and the hard-working can understand
and sympathize with one another. Only a tutor and only a governess: Mrs.
Dalziel drove away and never thought of them again. They were mere
machines--servants to whom she paid their wages, and so that they did
sufficient service to deserve these wages, she never interfered with
them, nor, indeed, wasted a moment's consideration upon them or their
concerns.

Consequently they were in the somewhat rare and peculiar position of
a young man and young woman (perhaps Mrs. Dalziel would have taken
exception to the words "young lady and young gentleman") thrown together
day after day, week after week--nay, it had now become month after
month--to all intents and purposes quite alone, except for the children.
They taught together, there being but one school-room; walked out
together, for the two younger boys refused to be separated from their
older brothers; and, in short, spent two-thirds of their existence
together, without let or hindrance, comment or observation, from any
mortal soul.

I do not wish to make any mystery in this story. A young woman of
twenty-five and a young man of thirty, both perfectly alone in the
world--orphans, without brother or sister--having to earn their own
bread, and earn it hardly, and being placed in circumstances where they
had every opportunity of intimate friendship, sympathy, whatever you like
to call it: who could doubt what would happen? The more so, as there was
no one to suggest that it might happen; no one to watch them or warn
them, or waken them with worldly-minded hints; or else to rise up, after
the fashion of so many wise parents and guardians and well-intentioned
friend