ding quite still upon the sands. An inspection through his eyeglass
revealed that it was Stella, and instinct told him her errand.

"This is rather awkward," he thought, as he braced himself to battle,
"especially as I like that girl and don't want to hurt her feelings.
Hullo! Miss Fregelius, are you taking the air? You should walk, or you
will catch cold."

"No, Colonel Monk, I was waiting for you."

"Waiting for me? Me! This is indeed an honour, and one which age
appreciates."

She waved aside his two-edged badinage. "You have been speaking to my
father," she said.

Instantly the Colonel assumed a serious manner, not the most serious,
such as he wore at funerals, but still one suited to a grave occasion.

"Yes, I have."

"You remember all that you said?"

"Certainly, Miss Fregelius; and I assume that for the purposes of this
conversation it need not be repeated."

She bowed her head, and replied, "I have come to explain and to tell you
three things. First, that all these stories are false except that about
the singing. Secondly, that whoever is responsible for them has made it
impossible that I should live in Monksland, so I am going to London to
earn my own living there. And, thirdly, that I hope you will excuse my
absence from dinner as I think the more I keep to myself until we go
to-morrow, the better; though I reserve to myself the right to speak to
Mr. Monk on this subject and to say good-bye to him."

"She _is_ taking it hard and she _is_ fond of him--deuced fond of
him, poor girl," thought the Colonel; but aloud he said, "My dear Miss
Fregelius, I never believed the stories. As for the principal one,
common sense rebels against it. All I said to your father was that
there appears to be a lot of talk about the place, and, under the
circumstances of my son's engagement, that he might perhaps give you a
friendly hint."

"Oh! indeed; he did not put it quite like that. He gave me to understand
that you had told him--that I was--so--so much in love with Mr. Monk
that on this account I had--rejected Mr. Layard."

"Please keep walking," said the Colonel, "or you _really_ will catch
cold." Then suddenly he stopped, looked her sharply in the face, much
as he had done to Eliza, and said, "Well, and are you not in love with
him?"

For a moment Stella stared at him indignantly. Then suddenly he saw a
blush spread upon her face to be followed by an intense pallor, while
the pupils of the lovely eyes enlarge