the particulars of the interview seems
to exist in your mind."

Denis hesitated and muttered something to himself; then, raising his
head suddenly, he added with some bitterness:

"Perhaps you may have your curiosity satisfied from another source,
Ernest. I see Mr. Hoffland approaching the house with Miss Lucy--from
the garden, there. No doubt he will tell you."

In fact, Miss Lucy and Hoffland were sauntering in from the garden in
high glee. Lucy from time to time burst into loud and merry laughter,
clapping her hands, and expressing great delight at something which
Hoffland was communicating; and Hoffland was bending down familiarly
and whispering in her ear.

No sooner, however, had the promenaders caught sight of Mowbray and
Denis looking at them, than their manner suddenly changed. Hoffland
drew back, and raising his head with great dignity, solemnly offered
his arm to the young girl; and Lucy, choking down her merriment and
puckering up her lips to hide her laughter, placed her little finger
on the sleeve of her cavalier. And so they approached the inmates of
the cottage, with quiet and graceful dignity, like noble lord and
lady; and entering, bowed ceremoniously, and sat down with badly
smothered laughter.

"Really," said Mowbray smiling, "you will permit me to say, Charles,
that you have a rare genius for making acquaintance suddenly: Lucy and
yourself seem to be excellent friends already."

And he looked kindly at the boy, who smiled.

"Friends?" said Hoffland; "we are cousins!"

"Cousins? Indeed!"

"Certainly, my dear fellow," said Hoffland, with a delightful ease and
_bonhomie_. "I have discovered that my great-grandmother married the
cousin of an uncle of cousin Lucy's great-grandfather's wife's aunt;
and moreover, that this aunt was the niece of my great-uncle's first
wife's husband. That makes it perfectly plain--don't it, Mr. Denis?
Take care how you differ with me: cousin Lucy understands it
perfectly, and she has a very clear head."

"Thank you, sir," said Lucy, laughing; "a great compliment."

"Not at all," said Hoffland; "some women have a great deal of
sense--or at least a good deal."

"Indeed, sir!"

"Yes; but it is not their failing generally. I have taken up that
impression of you, cousin Lucy, from our general conversation; not
from your ability to comprehend so simple a genealogical table as that
of our relationship."

"Upon my word, _I_ don't understand it," said Mowbray, sm