As my eyes wandered over the steep banks covered with young grass and green-leaved plants, and surmounted by budding hedges, I longed intensely for some familiar flower that might recall the woody dales or green hill-sides of home: the brown moorlands, of course, were out of the question.

Such a discovery would make my eyes gush out with water, no doubt; but that was one of my greatest enjoyments now.

At length I descried, high up between the twisted roots of an oak, three lovely primroses, peeping so sweetly from their hiding-place that the tears already started at the sight; but they grew so high above me, that I tried in vain to gather one or two, to dream over and to carry with me: I could not reach them unless I climbed the bank, which I was deterred from doing by hearing a footstep at that moment behind me, and was, therefore, about to turn away, when I was startled by the words, 'Allow me to gather them for you, Miss Grey,' spoken in the grave, low tones of a well-known voice.

Immediately the flowers were gathered, and in my hand.

It was Mr.Weston, of course--who else would trouble himself to do so much for _me_?
'I thanked him; whether warmly or coldly, I cannot tell: but certain I am that I did not express half the gratitude I felt.