Margaret was proud of her father; she had always a fresh and

tender pride in seeing how favourably he impressed every

stranger; still her quick eye sought over his face and found

there traces of some unusual disturbance, which was only put

aside, not cleared away.

Mr. Hale asked to look at their sketches.

'I think you have made the tints on the thatch too dark, have you

not?' as he returned Margaret's to her, and held out his hand for

Mr. Lennox's, which was withheld from him one moment, no more.

'No, papa! I don't think I have. The house-leek and stone-crop

have grown so much darker in the rain. Is it not like, papa?'

said she, peeping over his shoulder, as he looked at the figures

in Mr. Lennox's drawing.

'Yes, very like. Your figure and way of holding yourself is

capital. And it is just poor old Isaac's stiff way of stooping

his long rheumatic back. What is this hanging from the branch of

the tree? Not a bird's nest, surely.' 'Oh no! that is my bonnet. I never can draw with my bonnet on; it

makes my head so hot. I wonder if I could manage figures. There

are so many people about here whom I should like to sketch.' 'I should say that a likeness you very much wish to take you

would always succeed in,' said Mr. Lennox. 'I have great faith in

the power of will. I think myself I have succeeded pretty well in

yours.' Mr. Hale had preceded them into the house, while Margaret

was lingering to pluck some roses, with which to adorn her

morning gown for dinner.

'A regular London girl would understand the implied meaning of

that speech,' thought Mr. Lennox. 'She would be up to looking

through every speech that a young man made her for the

arriere-pensee of a compliment. But I don't believe Margaret,--Stay!'

exclaimed he, 'Let me help you;' and he gathered for her some velvety

cramoisy roses that were above her reach, and then dividing the

spoil he placed two in his button-hole, and sent her in, pleased

and happy, to arrange her flowers.

The conversation at dinner flowed on quietly and agreeably. There

were plenty of questions to be asked on both sides--the latest

intelligence which each could give of Mrs. Shaw's movements in

Italy to be exchanged; and in the interest of what was said, the

unpretending simplicity of the parsonage-ways--above all, in the

neighbourhood of Margaret, Mr. Lennox forgot the little feeling

of disappointment with which he had at first perceived that she

had spoken but the simple truth when she had described her

father's living as very small.




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