did you?"

"Good-morning, Dick--no, really, I didn't know you for an instant in such
a sad suit."

He looked again at the gay tresses and hat. "You've never dressed so
charming before, dearest."

"I like to hear you praise me in that way, Dick," she said, smiling
archly. "It is meat and drink to a woman. Do I look nice really?"

"Fie! you know it. Did you remember,--I mean didn't you remember about
my going away to-day?"

"Well, yes, I did, Dick; but, you know, I wanted to look well;--forgive
me."

"Yes, darling; yes, of course,--there's nothing to forgive. No, I was
only thinking that when we talked on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday
and Friday about my absence to-day, and I was so sorry for it, you said,
Fancy, so were you sorry, and almost cried, and said it would be no
pleasure to you to be the attraction of the church to-day, since I could
not be there."

"My dear one, neither will it be so much pleasure to me . . . But I do
take a little delight in my life, I suppose," she pouted.

"Apart from mine?"

She looked at him with perplexed eyes. "I know you are vexed with me,
Dick, and it is because the first Sunday I have curls and a hat and
feather since I have been here happens to be the very day you are away
and won't be with me. Yes, say it is, for that is it! And you think
that all this week I ought to have remembered you wouldn't be here to-
day, and not have cared to be better dressed than usual. Yes, you do,
Dick, and it is rather unkind!"

"No, no," said Dick earnestly and simply, "I didn't think so badly of you
as that. I only thought that--if you had been going away, I shouldn't
have tried new attractions for the eyes of other people. But then of
course you and I are different, naturally."

"Well, perhaps we are."

"Whatever will the vicar say, Fancy?"

"I don't fear what he says in the least!" she answered proudly. "But he
won't say anything of the sort you think. No, no."

"He can hardly have conscience to, indeed."

"Now come, you say, Dick, that you quite forgive me, for I must go," she
said with sudden gaiety, and skipped backwards into the porch. "Come
here, sir;--say you forgive me, and then you shall kiss me;--you never
have yet when I have worn curls, you know. Yes, just where you want to
so much,--yes, you may!"

Dick followed her into the inner corner, where he was probably not slow
in availing himself of the privilege offered.

"Now that's a treat for you