phen Layard, who fell violently in
love with her, which, to my mind, accounts for some of this gossip.
Still, I thought it my duty, and the best thing I could do, to give
a friendly hint to the old clergyman, Stella's father, a funny,
withered-up old boy by the way. He seems to have spoken to his daughter
rather indiscreetly, whereon she waylaid me as I was walking on the
sands and informed me that she had made up her mind to leave this place
for London, where she intended to earn her own living by singing and
playing on the violin. I must tell you that she played splendidly, and,
in my opinion, had one of the most glorious contralto voices that I ever
heard."

"She seems to have been a very attractive young woman," said Mary, in
the same quiet, contemplative voice.

"I think," went on the Colonel, "take her all in all, she was about the
most attractive young woman that ever I saw, poor thing. Upon my word,
dear, old as I am, I fell half in love with her myself, and so would you
if you had seen those eyes of hers."

"I remember," broke in Mary, "that old Mr. Tomley, after he returned
from inspecting the Northumberland living, spoke about Miss Fregelius's
wonderful eyes--at the dinner-party, you know, on the night when Morris
proposed to me," and she shivered a little as though she had turned
suddenly cold.

"Well, let me go on with my story. After she had told me this, and I
had promised to help her with introductions--exactly why or how I
forget--but I asked her flat out if she was in love with Morris.
Thereon--I assure you, my dear Mary, it was the most painful scene in
all my long experience--the poor thing turned white as a sheet, and
would have fallen if I had not caught hold of her. When she came to
herself a little, she admitted frankly that this was her case, but
added--of which, of course, one may believe as much as one likes, that
she had never known it until I asked the question."

"I think that quite possible," said Mary; "and really, uncle, to me your
cross-examination seems to have been slightly indiscreet."

"Possibly, my dear, very possibly; even Solomon might be excused for
occasionally making a mistake where the mysterious articles which young
ladies call their hearts are concerned. I tell what happened, that is
all. Shall I go on?"

"If you please."

"Well, after this she announced that she meant to see Morris once to say
good-bye to him before she went to London, and left me. Practically th