ank which the roots of an immense
oak had thrown up around its base.

"What now?" said Lawrence.

"This is a good place to stay. Father wishes to be left to himself."

"But aren't you going any further?"

"There is nothing to be gained by going any further. It is as pretty
here as anywhere in the wood."

"We might go on and see the pheasantry. Have you seen the pheasantry?"

"No."

"That does not depend on the housekeeper's pleasure; and the people on
the place are not all Methodists. I fancy we should have no trouble in
getting to see that. Come! It is really very fine, and worth a walk to
see. I am not much of a place-hunter, but the Brierley pheasantry is
something by itself."

"Not to-day," said Dolly.

"Why not to-day? I can get the gate opened."

"You forget it is Sunday, Mr. St. Leger."

"I do not forget it," said he, throwing himself down on the bank beside
her. "I came here to have the day with you. It's a holiday. Mr. Copley
keeps a fellow awfully busy other days, if one has the good fortune to
be his secretary. I remember particularly well that it is Sunday. What
about it? Can't a fellow have it, now he has got it?"

The blue eyes were looking with a surprised sort of complaint in them,
yet not wholly discontented, at Dolly. How could they be discontented?
So fair an object to rest upon and so curiosity-provoking too, as she
was. Dolly's advantages were not decked out at all; she was dressed in
a simple white gown; and there were none of the formalities of fine
ladyism about her; a very plain little girl; and yet, Lawrence was not
far wrong when he thought her the fairest thing his eyes had ever seen.
_Her_ eyes had such a mingling of the childlike and the wise; her hair
curled in such an artless, elegant way about her temples and in her
neck; the neck itself had such a pretty set and carriage, the figure
was so graceful in its girlish outlines; and above all, her manner had
such an inexplicable combination of the utterly free and the utterly
unapproachable. Lawrence lay thinking all this, or part of it; Dolly
was thinking how she should dispose of him. She could not well say
anything that would directly seem to condemn her father. And while she
was thinking what answer she should make, Lawrence had forgot his
question.

"Do you like this park?" he began on another tack.

"Oh, more than I can tell you! It is perfect. It is magnificent. There
is nothing like it in all America. At least, _I_ n