, reached a low paling which skirted the park
on the eastward; here, at a small cottage kept by one of the rangers, a
little door led in, passing through which he found himself in one of the
long green alleys of that beautiful tract. A boy, who seemed to be
ready waiting, now took his horse, and Linton entered the wood and
disappeared. He did not proceed far, however, within the shady copse,
for after going a short distance he perceived a carriage standing in the
lane, by the door of which a footman waited, with a shawl upon his arm.
The coachman, with his whip posed, sat talking with his fellow-servant,
so that Linton saw that the carriage had no occupant.

He now hastened along, and speedily emerging at a little grassy opening
of the wood, came in sight of a lady walking at some distance in front.
The fashionable air and splendid dress, which might have suited the
most brilliant promenade of a great city, seemed strange in such a lone,
unvisited spot. Linton lost no time in overtaking her, only diminishing
his speed as he came closer, when, with his hat removed, and in an
attitude of the most humble deference, he said,--

"Pray let me stand excused if I am somewhat behind my time; the fault
was not my own."

"Oh, say nothing about it," said a soft musical voice, and Lady Kilgoff
turned an easy smile towards him. "'Qui s'excuse, s'accuse,' says the
French proverb, and I never dreamt of the accusation. Is it not a lovely
day here?"

[Illustration: 213]

Linton was too much piqued to answer at once, but recovering, he said,
"Without seeking to apologize for an absence that was not felt, let me
return to the subject. I assure your Ladyship that I had been detained
by Lord Kilgoff, who was pleased to bestow a more than ordinary share of
his confidence upon me, and even condescended to ask my counsel."

"How flattering! Which you gave, I hope, with all the sincerity for
which you are famous."

Linton tried to smile, but not very successfully.

"What, then, was this wonderful mystery? Not the representative peerage,
I trust; I 'm sure I hope that question is at rest forever."

"You are quite safe there,--he never mentioned it."

"Oh, then it was his diplomatic ambition,--ain't I right? Ah, I knew it;
I knew it How very silly, or how very wicked you must be, Mr. Linton,
to encourage these daydreams,--you who have not the excuse of
hallucinations, who read the book of life as it is written, without
fanciful interpr