he new cottages
to the seat in Parliament."

"I shall wish you to do exactly what you like, May."

"And what else could give me so much pleasure?"

"Oh, May, how perfectly lovely it all sounds!" cried Sally,
enthusiastically. "And shall you have open-air evenings on the
bowling-green for the village people, with a band playing and every one
dancing? If so, ask me down with a contingent of girls."

When Paul returned to Rudham and informed Mrs. Macdonald of his
approaching marriage, he was a little puzzled by the look of alarm with
which she received the news.

"Come, come, Mrs. Macdonald! you have been as good as a mother to me; I
thought you would be the first to wish me good luck," Paul said.

"It's not that, sir! it's not that at all, that I'm thinking; but plain
people like John and me could noways manage for a pretty lady like Miss
Webster," she said.

Paul sat down and laughed. "So that's it. Well! I had not thought of
bringing my wife here to live. Happy as you have made me, it would be
a little small for her. I suppose we shall go to the Court, and I
could turn my rooms here into a workman's club, couldn't I? And we
could keep a bedroom for any of Miss Sally's girls who want a change."

After which Mrs. Macdonald recovered her spirits, and offered her
congratulations with Scotch sincerity.

"She's bonny, sir! she's very bonny! But my John will say that there's
not another lady in the world like our Miss Sally. His heart is set on
her, that it is! And when will be the wedding, if I may be so bold as
to ask?"

"To-morrow, if I had _my_ way. Six weeks hence, as I have to wait Miss
Webster's pleasure; and, I believe, in the years to come, she will
rival Miss Sally in your affections."

"Maybe, sir," replied Mrs. Macdonald, cautiously.

* * * * * *

More than two years had passed; and on a sunny day in June, Rose
Lancaster was once again making her way across the bowling-green at the
Court towards the rose-garden, bent upon the same quest as on the
summer morning, which seemed such a long time ago, when Tom Burney had
first declared his love for her. It was said in the village that Rose
had lost her looks, and certainly the indefinable first blush of youth
had faded; but if Rose's face had lost its delicacy of colouring, it
had gained infinitely in expression. The blue eyes were soft and
wistful, the pretty lips had lost their trick of pouting, the head was