ildren, and altar flowers, a harmonious
and suggestive one if not pleasant. What an ancient air it was, she
thought; breathed and re-breathed by slow generations of Stoke
Revellers during their sleepy devotions! The very light that entered
through the dim stained glass seemed old and dusty, it had seen so
much during so many hundred years, seen so much, and found out so many
secrets! Soon the clashing of the bells ceased and upon the still
reverberating silence there broke the small, snoring noises of a
rather ineffectual organ, while the amiable curate, Rev. Tobias Finch,
made his appearance, and the service began.

Mrs. de Tracy had entered the pew first, naturally; Miss Smeardon sat
next, then Robinetta. Lavendar occupied the pew in front, alone, and
through her half-closed eyelids Robinetta could see the line of his
lean cheek and bony temple. He had not wished to sit there at all and
he was so unresigned as to be badly in need of the soothing influences
of Morning Prayer. Robinetta was beginning to wonder dreamily what
manner of man this really was, behind his plain face and non-committal
manner, when the muffled slam of a door behind, startled her, followed
as it was by a quick step upon the matted aisle. Then without further
warning, a big, broad-shouldered boy, in the uniform of a British
midshipman, thrust himself into the pew beside her, hot and breathless
after running hard. Mrs. Loring guessed at once that this must be
Carnaby de Tracy, the young hopeful and heir of Stoke Revel of whom
Mr. Lavendar had so often spoken, but the startling and unconventional
nature of his appearance was not at all what one expected in a member
of his family. Robinette stole more than one look at him as the
offertory went round; a robust boy with a square chin, a fair face
burnt red by the sun, a rollicking eye and an impudent nose; not
handsome certainly, indeed quite plain, but he looked honest and
strong and clean, and Robinette's frolicsome youth was drawn to his,
all ready for fun. Carnaby hitched about a good deal, dropped his
hymn-book, moved the hassock, took out his handkerchief, and on
discovering a huge hole, turned crimson.

Service over, the congregation shuffled out into the sunshine, and
Mrs. de Tracy, after a characteristically cool and disapproving
recognition of her grandson, became occupied with villagers.
Lavendar made known young Carnaby to Mrs. David Loring, but the
midshipman's light grey eyes had discov