alian garden;
on the high wall, that preserved to the place an absolute seclusion, a
dozen peacocks sunned themselves gorgeously; while over the entire
enclosure grew--and climbed--and drooped--roses; roses of every shade
and of every size; roses that filled the air with a warm scent that
seemed at once to mingle with and to hold the summer sun.

She paused for an instant upon entering this enchanted garden, and drew
a deep breath of involuntary delight; then, walking slowly, as though
haste might desecrate such beauty, she passed down the long smooth lawn
that formed an alley of greenness amid the pink and crimson of the
flowers.

Pausing at the farther end, she stood, soothed by the sights and scents
about her, until suddenly a harsh, disturbed cry from one of the
peacocks broke the spell. She turned sharply, and saw Deerehurst
standing close behind her.

"I saw you from my dressing-room window," he said, in answer to her
look of surprise. "Was it very presumptuous of me to follow you?"

The cold, familiar voice banished the thought of the roses. Her
vexations and perplexities came back upon her abruptly, causing her
face to cloud over.

"No!" she said hastily--"no! I--I think I am glad to see you. I am in a
hopeless mood to-day. Things won't go right!"

He took her hand and bent over it, with even more than his usual
deference, although his cold eyes shot a swift glance at her distressed
face.

"But you must not say that," he said softly. "Things can always be
compelled to go right."

She shook her head despondently.

"Not for me."

He freed her hand gently, and pointed to one of the stone seats that
stood under the shadow of the rose bushes.

"Shall we sit down?" he said. "There is a great deal of repose to be
found in this garden of Lady Diana's. She had it copied many years ago
from my rose garden at Ambleigh."

Clodagh looked up at him, as they moved together across the grass.

"Indeed!" she said--"from your rose garden?"

"Yes; she and Tuffnell stayed with me at Ambleigh shortly after they
were married--when my sister was alive. And Lady Diana fell in love
with my rose garden. I remember I sent a couple of my gardeners down
here to plant this one for her. It is an exact reproduction, on a
smaller scale."

There was silence while they seated themselves; then Clodagh, looking
meditatively in front of her at the evil face of one of the stone
satyrs, spoke suddenly and impulsively.

"I envy yo