a passion of
restrained tears and sobbing. The emotion which her pride would not
permit her to show before, the gathering agitation of the whole morning
broke forth at this irresistible touch. She held Freddy close and
supported herself by him, leaning all her troubled heart and trembling
frame upon the little figure which clung to her bewildered, suddenly
growing silent and afraid in that passionate grasp. Freddy spoke no
more, but turned his frightened eyes upon the doctor, trembling with the
great throbs of Nettie's breast. In the early wintry sunshine, on the
quiet rural highroad, that climax of the gathering emotion of years
befell Nettie. She could exercise no further self-control. She could
only hide her face, that no one might see, and close her quivering lips
tight that no one might hear the bursting forth of her heart. No one was
there either to hear or see--nobody but Edward Rider, who stood bending
with sorrowful tenderness over the wilful fairy creature, whose words of
defiance had scarcely died from her lips. It was Freddy, and not the
doctor, who had vanquished Nettie; but the insulted lover came in for
his revenge. Dr Rider raised her up quietly, asking no leave, and lifted
her into the drag, where Nettie had been before, and where Freddy, elated
and joyful, took his place beside the groom, convinced that he was to go
now with the only true guardian his little life had known. The doctor
drove down that familiar road as slowly as he had dashed furiously up to
it. He took quiet possession of the agitated trembling creature who had
carried her empire over herself too far. At last Nettie had broken down;
and now he had it all his own way.

When they came to the cottage, Mrs Fred, whom excitement had raised to
a troublesome activity, came eagerly out to the door to see what had
happened; and the two children, who, emancipated from all control, were
sliding down the banisters of the stair, one after the other, in wild
glee and recklessness, paused in their dangerous amusement to watch the
new arrival. "Oh! look here; Nettie's crying!" said one to the other,
with calm observation. The words brought Nettie to herself.

"I am not crying now," she said, waking into sudden strength. "Do you
want to get them killed before they go away, all you people? Susan, go
in, and never mind. I was not--not quite well out of doors; but I don't
mean to suffer this, you know, as long as I am beside them. Dr Edward,
come in. I ha