n a few
minutes. My servant is a most experienced traveller, and will not suffer
you to endure the slightest inconvenience; and I will follow in yours.

"But perhaps you cannot travel in an open carriage? I have heard that
your health is delicate."

"I prefer it greatly."

"And I too----"

She stopped suddenly, feeling that she was about to utter what might
seem an ungracious acknowledgment. There was such an evident regret in
the dread of having offended me, that, without pausing to reflect, I
said,--

"There is another alternative; I am a very safe whip, and if you would
permit me to have the honour of accompanying you, I should be but too
happy to be your escort."

She tried to answer by a polite smile of acceptance, but I saw that
the proposition was scarcely such as she approved of, and so at once I
added,--

"I will spare you the pain of rejecting my offer; pray, then, abide by
my first suggestion. I see my carriage coming along yonder."

"I don't know," said she, with a kind of wilfulness, like that of one
who had been long accustomed to indulgence; "it may seem very capricious
to you, but I own I detest post-horses, and cracking whips, and
rope-harness. You shall drive me, Mr. Templeton."

I replied by a very sincere assurance of how I esteemed the favour, and
the next moment was seated at her side. As I stole a glance at the pale
but beautifully-formed features, her drooping eyelashes, dark as night,
and her figure of surpassing symmetry and grace, I could not help
thinking of all the straits and expedients I had practised for three
entire days to avoid making her acquaintance. As if she had actually
divined what was then passing in my mind, she said,--

"You see, Mr. Temple ton, it was like a fate; you did your utmost not to
meet us, and here we are, after all."

I stammered out a very eager, but a very blundering attempt at denial,
while she resumed,--

"Pray do not make matters worse, which apologies in such cases always
do. Grandpapa told me that ill health had made you a recluse and avoid
society. This, and the mystery of your own close seclusion, were quite
enough to make me desirous to see you."

"How flattered I should have been had I suspected so much interest could
attach to me! but, really, I dreaded to inflict upon a very old friend
what I found to be so tiresome, namely, my own company."

"I always heard that you were fastidious about going into society; but
surely a visit to an