ng into his gig: all his sense of fatigue had vanished, and a new
and strange feeling had taken possession of him.

"And they are going to send her to service!" he said to himself. "What a
shame!"

And yet he knew he was unreasonable. As she herself had said, what
choice was there in her rank of life? and it was only her beautiful face
that made it seem at all out of place; but what an _only_ that was!
"Why," he thought, "I have been five and twenty years in the world, and
I have never seen a face to match it--never!"

At dinner that day Dr. Brunton was rather preoccupied and taciturn till
his sister asked him if he had yet happened to see Lady Louisa Moor.

"No," he said, "I have not had that pleasure."

"Well, it is a pleasure," she said: "I think she is as pretty a girl as
I ever saw."

"Pretty!" said he: "why, I saw a girl to-day--a hind's daughter--so
beautiful that I can't think how I never heard of her before: her beauty
is a thing to be spoken about."

"The style of good looks that pleases one person often does not please
another," said Miss Robertson.

"But she is not good-looking--I tell you no one would speak of good
looks in connection with her--she is simply and perfectly beautiful; and
she is going to service. Imagine yon creature brushing your boots and
bringing them to you! The bare idea is profanation. She only wants
education to make her a thing to be worshiped; but she is quite
uncultured: I shouldn't wonder if she can't even read or write decently,
but she has no want of natural ability: everything she said proved
that."

"I am afraid you have fallen in love," said Miss Robertson.

"I am afraid of it," he said.

"I think hardly," said his sister. "I think you have more sense, James,
than to be taken with a pretty face belonging to a young lady who can
neither read nor write."

"Millions of people can read and write," said he, "but how many have a
face like hers?"

"I must find her out and have a look at her," said Miss Robertson.

"Wait, James," said Mary, "till you see Lady Louisa."

"Lady Louisa may be anything she likes," said he, "but it is impossible
she can match this peasant-girl without a single grace of dress or
culture. I never saw anything like her--never."

"I have heard of gentlemen picking up pretty girls and sending them to
be educated with a view of marrying them," said Miss Robertson.

"I've heard of that too," said the doctor. "Well, beauty is a wonderful
gift;