learned to
work, and I should make a pretty mess of my life; it would be poor
Mrs. Trafford's experience over again." And he shook his head when Fay
suggested that Hugh should let him have one of his farms. He knew
nothing about farming; a little Latin and Greek, a smattering of
French and German, were his chief acquirements. "I should have to turn
boatman, or starve. No, no, Fay; I must not swamp my own prospects for
a mere sentimental idea; and after all, Miss Selby is very nice."

Fay was very angry with him when he said this, for she had taken a
curious fancy to this Fern Trafford, but Erle would not listen to her;
he got up and shook himself, and walked to the window, and then very
gravely proposed a game of snow-balling in the avenue.

Fay thought he was serious, and expressed herself much shocked at the
idea. Hugh would not like it, she was sure; one of the gardeners might
see them. As it was, Hugh had told her that he was afraid the servants
were not sufficiently in awe of her ever since they saw her playing
hide and seek in the hall with Nero.

She confessed that she was very fond of it though, and had snow-balled
Nero last year in the Daintree garden, and Aunt Griselda had not been
shocked at all.

"Don't you sometimes wish you were back at Daintree?" asked Erle,
turning round from the window and contemplating the pretty flushed
face rather curiously.

"Oh, no," she returned, quickly; "how can you ask me such a question,
Erle. I could not imagine life without Hugh. Does it not seem
strange?" she continued, seriously; "I have only been married about
five months, and yet I find it impossible to imagine myself back at
the cottage without Hugh."

"Do you know," observed Erle, carelessly, as he sauntered back to the
fire-place, "that I have been here ten days, and must begin to think
of my return? If there be one thing I hate, it is to outstay my
welcome. I should be afraid of boring you both if I stayed much
longer. Well, what now?" breaking off in some surprise.

"Ah, Erle!" exclaimed Fay, sorrowfully, the smiles and the dimples
disappearing in a moment, "you are surely not going away yet. What
shall I do without you?" continued the poor child. "Who will ride and
drive and skate with me when you are gone?"

"Why, your husband, to be sure," returned Erle, lightly; but he was
watching her as he spoke. "You have not forgotten your husband, you
naughty woman."

Fay never knew why a sudden sharp pang shot