What if these three last days should come to be marred with such terrible drawbacks as these! Bernard Dale had not spoken a word to his cousin of his suit, since they had been interrupted by Crosbie and Lily as they were lying on the bank by the ha-ha.

He had danced with her again and again at Mrs Dale's party, and had seemed to revert to his old modes of conversation without difficulty.

Bell, therefore, had believed the matter to be over, and was thankful to her cousin, declaring within her own bosom that the whole matter should be treated by her as though it had never happened.

To no one,--not even to her mother, would she tell it.

To such reticence she bound herself for his sake, feeling that he would be best pleased that it should be so.