en in any of the visitors
at that aristocratic mansion.

"I'm sure," she repeated, looking down and speaking with interesting
hesitation, "my papa would be happy to show his gallery to any
gentleman in the neighbourhood. Perhaps you know papa?"

"I have not the honour, but since I know what a treasure he possesses,
I should think it a great happiness to make his acquaintance."

The lady said nothing, but thought it the most neatly turned
compliment she ever heard in her life.

"I am on a visit to a family near this," he continued, "and may
perhaps have the opportunity of meeting Mr Howard.

"Oh, where is it?" exclaimed Miss Arabel. "What is their name? We know
every body in the neighbourhood--that is, of course, you know"----

"Every body that's worth knowing," said the stranger with a smile.

"Exactly. Is it the Rayleighs of Borley Castle, we know them very
well; or the Manbys of Flixley Abbey, delightful people, we are quite
intimate with them; or the Sundridges of Fairley Manor, there are no
pleasanter people in the world--so good, so ladylike, and yet they say
Mrs Sundridge's father was something very low, a Calcutta merchant, or
India director, or something of that sort. Is it any of these?"

"No! It is with a gentleman who has lately taken a small villa in the
neighbourhood, and I am afraid he will think I have been absent from
him too long. Do you sketch here every day?"

"Till I have finished this tiresome building," replied Miss Arabel. "I
must avail myself of the fine weather, and not miss a single morning."

The gentleman smiled, and so did the lady. With another apology for
having intruded, he bowed and withdrew.

Miss Arabel continued where she was, till she lost his graceful figure
among the windings of the shrubbery.

"He is a charming man," she thought, "and might easily manage to get
acquainted with papa if he chose. Who can he be?--he's very clever and
very accomplished--and walks so nobly. I wonder if he is in the
Guards."

She opened her sketch-book once more, and was busy with her pencil,
and her thoughts at the same time. She had not seen what necessity
there was for taking his leave so hurriedly, and perhaps a faint idea
came to her, that it was not impossible he might return. While she was
new-pointing her pencil, and recalling all that the stranger had said,
she heard a footstep coming through the plantation.

"Hush! He is coming again. He can't stay away."

"Servant, young mum