you, but--but I do not think that you have behaved rightly
either. I don't like that about the ten pounds; and I think that you
should not have touched George; he is not so strong as you. Please try
to do as your father--dear me, I am sure I don't wonder that you are
afraid of him; I am--tells you, and regain his affection, and make it
up with George; and, if you get into any more troubles, come and tell
me about them before you do anything foolish; for though, according to
Grumps, I am silly enough, two heads are better than one."

The tears stood in the lad's brown eyes as he listened to her. He
gulped them down, however, and said--

"You are awfully kind to me; you are the only friend I have. Sometimes
I think that you are an angel."

"Nonsense, Philip. If 'it' heard you talk like that, you would join
Grumps. Don't let me hear any more such stuff," but, though she spoke
sharply, somehow she did not look displeased.

"I must be off," he said at length. "I promised to go with my father
to see a new building on Reynold's farm. I have only twenty minutes to
get home;" and rising they went into the house through a French window
opening on to the lawn.

In the dining-room he turned, and, after a moment's hesitation,
stuttered out--

"Maria, don't be angry with me, but may I give you a kiss?"

She blushed vividly.

"How dare you suggest such a thing?--but--but as Grumps has gone, and
there is no new Grumps to refer to, and therefore I can only consult
my own wishes, perhaps if you really wish to, Philip, why, Philip, you
may."

And he did.

When he was gone she leant her head against the cold marble
mantelpiece.

"I do love him," she murmured, "yes, that I do."

CHAPTER III

Philip was not very fond of taking walks with his father, since he
found that in nine cases out of ten they afforded opportunities for
inculcation of facts of the driest description with reference to
estate management, or to the narration by his parent of little
histories of which his conduct upon some recent occasion would adorn
the moral. On this particular occasion the prospect was particularly
unpleasant, for his father would, he was well aware, overflow with
awful politeness, indeed, after the scene of the morning, it could not
be otherwise. Oh, how much rather would he have spent that lovely
afternoon with Maria Lee! Dear Maria, he would go and see her again
the very next day.

When he arrived,