quickly, as the collie came up.

"Probably?" the young man exclaimed, laughing. "I supposed it was
quite settled! Have you arrived with my mother?"

"Yes, half an hour ago."

"And has she deposited you and departed again?"

"No, she went straight to her room, and she told me that, if I
should see you, I was to say to you that you must come to her
there at a quarter to seven."

The young man looked at his watch. "Thank you very much; I shall
be punctual." And then he looked at his cousin. "You're very
welcome here. I'm delighted to see you."

She was looking at everything, with an eye that denoted clear
perception--at her companion, at the two dogs, at the two
gentlemen under the trees, at the beautiful scene that surrounded
her. "I've never seen anything so lovely as this place. I've been
all over the house; it's too enchanting."

"I'm sorry you should have been here so long without our knowing
it."

"Your mother told me that in England people arrived very quietly;
so I thought it was all right. Is one of those gentlemen your
father?"