eable. He could, when he
pleased, be a most pleasing guest. He had that sort of knowledge of
people and life which seasons talk so well, and suits so many listeners.
He was curious to find out to which of the sisters Loyd was engaged,
but all his shrewdness could not fix the point decisively. He talked on
incessantly, referring occasionally to Loyd to confirm what he knew well
the other's experience could never have embraced, and asking frankly,
as it were, for his opinion on people he was fully aware the other had
never met with.

Emily (or Milly, as she was familiarly called) Walter showed impatience
more than once at these sallies, which always made Loyd confused and
uncomfortable, so that Calvert leaned to the impression that it was
she herself was the chosen one. As for Florence, she rather enjoyed,
he thought, the awkward figure Loyd presented, and she even laughed
outright at his bashful embarrassment.

"Yes," said Calvert to himself, "Florence is with me. She is my ally.
I'm sure of her."

"What spirits he has," said Miss Grainger, as she brought the sick girl
her coffee. "I never saw him in a gayer mood. He's bent on tormenting
Loyd though, for he has just proposed a row on the lake, and that he
should take one boat and Loyd the other, and have a race. He well knows
who'll win."

"That would be delightful, aunt Let us have it by all means. Mr.
Calvert, I engage _you_. You are to take _me_. Emily will go with Mr.
Loyd."

"And I'll stand at the point and be the judge," said Miss Grainger.

Calvert never waited for more, but springing up, hastened down to the
shore to prepare the boat He was soon followed by Miss Grainger, with
Florence leaning on her arm and looking brighter and fairer than he
thought he had ever seen her.

"Let us be off at once," whispered Calvert, "for I'd like a few hundred
yards' practice--a sort of trial gallop--before I begin;" and, placing
the sick girl tenderly in the stern, he pulled vigorously out into the
lake. "What a glorious evening!" said he. "Is there anything in the
world can equal one of these sunsets on an Italian lake, with all the
tints of the high Alps blending softly on the calm water?"

She made no answer; and he went on enthusiastically about the scene, the
hour, the stillness, and the noble sublimity of the gigantic mountains
which arose around them.

Scarcely, however, had Calvert placed her in the boat, and pulled out
vigorously from the shore, than he saw