e your
acquaintance." He shook Phil's hand up and down in a sort of see-saw.
"Very glad to make your acquaintance! though you are the worst enemy
Windyhill has had for many a day--carrying off the finest lamb in all
the fold."

"Yes, I'm a wolf, I suppose," said Phil. He went to the door and took a
long look out while Elinor led the Rector into the drawing-room. Then
Mr. Compton lounged in after them, with his hands in his pockets, and
placed himself in the bow-window, where he could still see the white
line across the combe of the distant road.

"They'll think I have stolen a march upon them all, Elinor," said the
Rector, "chancing upon Mr. Compton like this, a quite unexpected
pleasure. I shall keep them on the tenterhooks, asking them whom they
suppose I have met? and they will give everybody but the right person.
What a thing for me to have been the first person to see your intended,
my dear! and I congratulate you, Elinor," said the Rector, dropping his
voice; "a fine handsome fellow, and such an air! You are a lucky girl--"
he paused a little and said, with a slight hesitation, in a whisper, "so
far as meets the eye."

"Oh, Mr. Hudson, don't spoil everything," said Elinor, in the same tone.

"Well, I cannot tell, can I, my dear?--the first peep I have had." He
cleaved his throat and raised his voice. "I believe we are to have the
pleasure of entertaining you, Mr. Compton, on a certain joyful occasion
(joyful to you, not to us). I need not say how pleased my wife and I
and the other members of the family will be. There are not very many of
us--we are only five in number--my son, and my daughter, and Miss Dale,
my wife's sister, but much younger than Mrs. Hudson--who has done us the
pleasure of staying with us for part of the year. I think she has met
you somewhere, or knows some of your family, or--something. She is a
great authority on noble families. I don't know whether it is because
she has been a good deal in society, or whether it is out of
Debrett----"

"Nell, come and tell me what this is," Compton said.

"Oh, Phil! it is nothing, it is a carriage. I don't know what it is. Be
civil to the Rector, please."

"So I am, perfectly civil."

"You have not answered a single word, and he has been talking to you for
ten minutes."

"Well, but he hasn't said anything that I can answer. He says Miss
Something or other knows my family. Perhaps she does. Well, much good
may it do her! but what can I say to tha