the
horses.

"Wait a moment till I let down their heads. How could you have suffered
them to come up the long hill with the bearing-reins on, Alice?" cried
he.

"So, then, it is I that am to have the scolding," said she, in a
whisper; then added aloud, "Come here and beg pardon. I 'm not sure you
'll get it, for your shameful desertion of us. Where have you been, sir?
and why have not you reported yourself on your return?"

Tony came up to the side of the carriage with an attempt at swagger that
only increased his own confusion, and made him blush deeply. No sooner,
however, had he seen Maitland, of whose presence up to that he had been
ignorant, than he grew pale, and had to steady himself by catching hold
of the door.

"I see you are ashamed," said she, "but I 'll keep you over for
sentence. Meanwhile, let me present you to Mr. Maitland."

"I know him," said Tony, gulping out the words.

"Yes," chimed in Maitland, "we made acquaintance yesterday; and if Mr.
Butler be but of my mind, it will not be a mere passing knowledge we
shall have of each other."

"Get in, Tony, and come a mile or two with us. You know all the short
cuts in the mountains, and can get back easily."

"There's the short cut I mean to take now," said Tony, sternly, as he
pointed to a path that led down to the seashore. "I am going home."

"Yes, sir," resumed she, with a well-feigned air of severity; "but mine
is a command."

"I have left the service,--I have taken my discharge," said he, with a
forced laugh.

"At least, you ought to quit with honor,--not as a deserter," said she,
softly but sadly.

"Perhaps he could not trust his resolution, if he were to see again the
old flag he had served under," said Maitland.

"Who made you the exponent of what I felt, sir?" said he, savagely. "I
don't remember that in our one single conversation we touched on these
things."

"Tony!" cried Alice, in a low voice, full of deep feeling and
sorrow,--"Tony!"

"Good-bye, Alice; I 'm sorry to have detained you, but I thought--I
don't know what I thought. Remember me to Bella,--good-bye!" He turned
away; then suddenly, as if remembering himself, wheeled round and said,
"Good-morning, sir," with a short quick nod of his head. The moment
after he had sprung over the low wall at the roadside, and was soon lost
to view in the tall ferns.

"How changed he is! I declare I can scarcely recognize him," said Mrs.
Trafford, as they resumed their journey. "