were speedily added the three young Dugdales, all in high glee. And it
spoke well for the Miss Harpers, whom Agatha was disposed to like least
of her husband's relatives, that they made very lenient and kindly aunts
to those obstreperous boys.

Agatha was crossing the bridge which bounded South Street, trying to
make her horse stand still while Mr. Dugdale pointed out the identical
red cliff where the Danes drew up their ships, and laughing with Harrie
at the notion of how terribly frightened the quiet souls in Kingcombe
would be at such an incursion now, when Nathanael came on foot to his
wife's side.

"Why did you start without speaking to me?"

"I could not help it; I thought you were gone. You will come after us
soon?" And she felt angry with herself for having momentarily forgotten
him.

"I will come when I have settled this business of the house. You
understand, Agatha, I am obliged to decide to-day? You will not blame
me afterwards?"

"Oh, no--no!" His extreme seriousness of manner jarred with her youthful
spirits. She did not think or care about what he did, so that for this
day only he let her be gay and happy. From some incomprehensible cause,
his very love seemed to hang over her like a cloud, and so it had been
from the beginning. She did so long to dash out into the sunshine of
her careless, girlish life, and scamper over the beautiful country with
Harrie Dugdale.

"Oh, no!" she repeated only wishing to satisfy him. "Take any house you
like, and come onward soon; and oh, do let us be cheerful and merry!"

"We will!" His bright look as she patted his shoulder--a very
venturesome act---gave her much cheer; and when, after she had cantered
a good way down the road, she turned and saw him still leaning on the
bridge looking after her, her heart throbbed with pleasure. Despite all
his reserves and peculiarities, and her own conscious failings, there
was one thing to which she clung as to a root of comfort that
would never be taken away, and would surely bear blossom and fruit
afterwards--the belief that her husband truly loved her.

[Illustration: On horseback p212]

"If so," she thought, "I suppose all will come right in time, and Agatha
Harper will be as happy as, or happier than, Agatha Bowen."

So on she went, yielding to the delicious excitement of being on
horseback. She was also much interested by the country round about,
which appeared to her as old, desolate, and strange as if she had bee