The world was forgetting
it, and if Hester knew it, she kept it from his knowledge, so he used
to consult Fulk as to what was to be done to please an English lady,
and whether he was too rough for her; and Fulk stood it all. He even
knew when the young lady herself was brought forward--and refused,
gently, sadly, courteously, but unmistakably; and then, when driven
hard by the eager wooing, owned to an old attachment, that never would
permit her to marry!

What a light there was in Fulk's eyes when he whispered that into my
ears! And yet he had kept his counsel, even though Mr. Dayman told him
that the mother declared it to be a foolish romantic affair of very
early girlhood, that no doubt his perseverance would overthrow.

"And her persecution!" muttered poor Fulk. But he did enjoy the
confidences in a bitter-sweet fashion. It was justifiable to be a dog
in the manger under the circumstances.

Mr. Dayman went to London, and Hester was negotiating about a house
where Mrs. Deerhurst and her daughters were to stay with her for a few
weeks. I fancy Mrs. Deerhurst thought that the chance of seeing Farmer
Torwood ride by to market had a bad effect. It was the Easter
holidays, and both boys were at home; always trying to be together, and
we not finding it easy to keep Alured from Spinney Lawn, without such
flat refusals as would have given his sister legitimate cause of
complaint and offence.

One beautiful spring afternoon, when Alured, to my vexation and vague
uneasiness, had gone over there, I was sowing annuals in the garden and
watching for him at the same time, when, to my surprise, I saw, coming
over the fields from the park, a lady with a quick, timid, yet wearied
step. Had she lost her way, I thought? There was something of the
tame fawn in her movement; and then I remembered the white doe. Yes!
it was Emily!

The one haunting anxiety of my life broke out--"You haven't come to say
there's anything amiss with my boy?" I cried out.

"No; oh no! I think he is safe now; but I wanted to tell you, I think
you ought to be warned."

She was trembling so much that I wanted to bring her in and make her
rest; but she would only sit down on the step of the stile, and there
she whispered it, in this way.

"You know there's a dreadful scarlet fever at old Brown's."

"The old man that sells curiosities? No, I did not know it; I'll keep
Trevorsham away," I said, wondering she had come all this way; and then
as