pleasure of being with him, and I do
not know what is to come of it all. That incident of the loose girth
is an illustration. Did you ever know anything so bold and
transparent? Any one could see through it, and the worst of all is she
seems not to care if every one does see. Now look at them ahead of us!
No girl is so happy riding beside a man unless she is interested in
him. She was dull enough until he joined her. He seemed in no hurry to
come, so she resorted to the flimsy excuse of the loose girth to bring
him. I am surprised that she even sought the shadow of an excuse, but
did not order him forward without any pretense of one. Oh! I don't
know what to do. It troubles me greatly. Do you know the state of his
feelings?"

"No," I answered, "but I think he is heart-whole, or nearly so. He
told me he was not fool enough to fall in love with the king's sister,
and I really believe he will keep his heart and head, even at that
dizzy height. He is a cool fellow, if there ever was one."

"He certainly is different from other men," returned Jane. "I think he
has never spoken a word of love to her. He has said some pretty
things, which she has repeated to me; has moralized to some extent,
and has actually told her of some of her faults. I should like to see
anyone else take that liberty. She seems to like it from him, and says
he inspires her with higher, better motives and a yearning to be good;
but I am sure he has made no love to her."

"Perhaps it would be better if he did. It might cure her," I replied.

"Oh! no! no! not now; at first, perhaps, but not now. What I fear is
that if he remains silent much longer she will take matters in hand
and speak herself. I don't like to say that--it doesn't sound
well--but she is a princess, and it would be different with her from
what it would be with an ordinary girl; she might have to speak first,
or there might be no speaking from one who thought his position too
far beneath hers. She whose smallest desires drive her so, will never
forego so great a thing as the man she loves only for the want of a
word or two."

Then it was that Jane told me of the scene with the note, of the
little whispered confidence upon their pillows, and a hundred other
straws that showed only too plainly which way this worst of ill winds
was blowing--with no good in it for any one. Now who could have
foretold this? It was easy enough to prophesy that Brandon would learn
to love Mary, excite a pass