a cousin?"

"I heard it somewhere," answered Abel, gently and respectfully, but
looking at Hope with a curious glance which seemed to her to penetrate
every pore in her body. That glance said as plainly as words could have
said, "And I heard you were engaged to him."

Hope Wayne looked serious for a moment; then she said, with a half smile,

"I suppose it is no secret that Alfred Dinks is my cousin;" and, bowing
to Abel, she went swiftly over the lawn toward the house.

CHAPTER XI.

A VERDICT AND A SENTENCE.

Hope Wayne did not agree with Abel Newt that life was so much better in
books. There was nothing better in any book she had ever read than the
little conversation with the handsome youth which she had had that
morning upon the lawn. When she went into the house she found no one
until she knocked at Mrs. Simcoe's door.

"Aunty, did you call me?"

"Yes, Hope."

"I was on the lawn, Aunty."

"I know it, Hope."

The young lady did not ask her why she had not sought her there, but she
asked, "What do you want, Aunty?"

The older woman looked quietly out of the window. Neither spoke for a
long time.

"I saw you talking with Abel Newt on the lawn. Why did he strike that
boy?" asked Mrs. Simcoe at length, still gazing at the distant hills.

"He had to defend himself," said Hope, rapidly.

"Couldn't a young man protect himself against a boy without stunning him?
He might easily have killed him," said Mrs. Simcoe, in the same dry tone.

"It was very unfortunate, and Mr. Newt says so; but I don't think he is
to bear every thing."

"What did the other do?"

"He insulted him."

"Indeed!"

The tone in which the elderly woman spoke was trying. Hope was flushed,
and warm, and disconcerted. There was so much skepticism and contempt in
the single word "indeed!" as Mrs. Simcoe pronounced it, that Hope was
really angry with her.

"I don't see why you should treat Mr. Newt in that manner," said she,
haughtily.

"In what manner, Hope?" asked the other, calmly, fixing her eyes upon her
companion.

"In that sneering, contemptuous manner," replied Hope, loftily. "Here is
a young man who falls into an unfortunate quarrel, in which he happens to
get the better of his opponent, who chances to be younger. He helps him
carefully into the carriage. He explains upon the spot as well as he can,
and to-day he comes to explain further; and you will not believe him; you
misunderstand and misrepresent him. It is