. On the other, a terrace of turf led to ground on a lower level,
laid out as an Italian garden. Wandering past the fountains and statues,
Allan reached another shrubbery, winding its way apparently to some
remote part of the grounds. Thus far, not a human creature had been
visible or audible anywhere; but, as he approached the end of the second
shrubbery, it struck him that he heard something on the other side of
the foliage. He stopped and listened. There were two voices speaking
distinctly--an old voice that sounded very obstinate, and a young voice
that sounded very angry.

"It's no use, miss," said the old voice. "I mustn't allow it, and I
won't allow it. What would Mr. Armadale say?"

"If Mr. Armadale is the gentleman I take him for, you old brute!"
replied the young voice, "he would say, 'Come into my garden, Miss
Milroy, as often as you like, and take as many nosegays as you please.'"
Allan's bright blue eyes twinkled mischievously. Inspired by a sudden
idea, he stole softly to the end of the shrubbery, darted round the
corner of it, and, vaulting over a low ring fence, found himself in a
trim little paddock, crossed by a gravel walk. At a short distance down
the wall stood a young lady, with her back toward him, trying to force
her way past an impenetrable old man, with a rake in his hand, who stood
obstinately in front of her, shaking his head.

"Come into my garden, Miss Milroy, as often as you like, and take as
many nosegays as you please," cried Allan, remorselessly repeating her
own words.

The young lady turned round, with a scream; her muslin dress, which she
was holding up in front, dropped from her hand, and a prodigious lapful
of flowers rolled out on the gravel walk.

Before another word could be said, the impenetrable old man stepped
forward, with the utmost composure, and entered on the question of his
own personal interests, as if nothing whatever had happened, and nobody
was present but his new master and himself.

"I bid you humbly welcome to Thorpe Ambrose, sir," said this ancient of
the gardens. "My name is Abraham Sage. I've been employed in the grounds
for more than forty years; and I hope you'll be pleased to continue me
in my place."

So, with vision inexorably limited to the horizon of his own prospects,
spoke the gardener, and spoke in vain. Allan was down on his knees on
the gravel walk, collecting the fallen flowers, and forming his first
impressions of Miss Milroy from the fee